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IRON MOUNTAIN -- A contract for criminal defense services for indigent individuals in Dickinson County remains on hold, although the county is already participating in the regional arrangement.
The county board was scheduled to adopt the contract at its regular meeting Monday, but tabled it because Prosecuting Attorney Abbey Anderson was unable to attend.
Meanwhile, Board Chairman Dan Harrington questioned whether Superior Defense, a non-profit corporation formed to provide public defenders in Iron, Dickinson and Delta counties, has too big of a budget. Harrington relayed concerns to attorney Daryl Waters, president of Superior Defense, that defense attorneys are filing "baseless motions" in an effort to overwhelm law enforcement.
Waters explained it would be up to individual judges to determine if motions are valid.
Harrington cited no specific agencies or cases, and Waters said he was willing to meet with the board again to answer further questions. Commissioners agreed to take up the contract at either a special meeting or the regular Dec. 14 meeting.
The board had agreed in July to form a regional unit to provide attorneys for indigent defendants with the goal of improving services and reducing administrative overhead.
Waters, who is Iron County's chief public defender, had explained that beginning Oct. 1, 2026, Iron County would serve as the administrative and compliance hub for the program to eliminate duplicative work. It was noted that Dickinson and Delta counties would continue to contribute only their statutorily required local share toward services.
Iron Mountain attorney Andrea Mashak-Lassila, who serves as Superior Defense secretary, had told the board that only two or three local attorneys were regularly accepting court-appointed cases. Each county now receives an individual Michigan Indigent Defense Commission grant, but by pooling the grants it's hoped that the number of local attorneys available will grow.
MIDC was created by legislation in 2013 after an advisory commission recommended improvements to the state's legal system. The MIDC Act requires the state to fund MIDC so it can provide grants to ensure that effective counsel is delivered to indigent defendants.
Delta County approved a contract with Superior Defense earlier this month and Iron County was expected to address it today. The duration of the contract is from Oct. 1, 2026, through Sept. 30, 2027. The agreement automatically renews for a one-year period provided both state and tri-county funding in full are present.
Jim Anderson can be reached at 906-774-2772, ext. 85226, or janderson@ironmountaindailynews.com.