Commission OKs one-year contracts with Hendricks & Owens for district-court and conflict defense

The Duchesne County Commission on Dec. 30 approved two one‑year agreements with the law firm Hendricks & Owens to provide indigent defense services for district court and conflict representation.

Grant Charles summarized the two contracts and told the board the district‑court contract would cover about one‑third of the office’s cases and carries a monthly fee that is $1,000 higher than last year’s agreement. A separate conflicts contract would let the firm accept conflict matters at an hourly rate or under a flat‑rate arrangement to limit administrative burden, Charles said.

Commissioners and county staff discussed case routing: staffer Michelle (public defender office) must reassign incoming cases to ensure the public defender’s office handles the initial assignments and flags conflicts for Hendricks & Owens under the conflict contract. Grant Charles said the county and the attorneys will monitor the number of spillover conflicts and consider adjustments next year if necessary.

Commissioner Killian moved to approve the conflict contract with Hendricks & Owens; the motion was seconded and passed unanimously. The commission then voted to approve the district‑court services agreement for roughly one‑third of indigent defense cases on a one‑year term. County staff said they would coordinate transitions with the firm and confirm assignment procedures with the public defender’s office.

Both agreements are one‑year contracts as recorded in the meeting packet; commissioners signaled interest in evaluating a longer term (five years) in future budget cycles.