Grand Jury findings on El Dorado County Public Defender and Probation

Last year, the El Dorado County Grand Jury found that the workplace environment of the South Lake Tahoe Probation Department was "toxic." That report also said, "Officers were being micromanaged, a clique system of disparate groups had formed
wherein out of favor clique members were unfairly disciplined at times. Those things lead to poor morale and perhaps reduced productiveness at the South Lake Tahoe Probation Office."

The 2014-15 Grand Jury followed up with the department to see if things had changed.

After they interviewed all of the Probation Department staff and reviewed personnel documents, the Grand Jury has found that the changed put in by the new Probation Officer Brian Richart have been very positive. They said he has dealt effectively with the workplace dysfunction previously felt by South Lake Tahoe staff but slower than hoped.

Staff has more training opportunities according to the jury's report. Improved communication between management and staff also is improving they said.

Also mentioned in the 2014-15 Grand Jury report was their investigation of the El Dorado County Public Defenders Department in Placerville and South Lake Tahoe.

They lead off their report by saying, "the Public Defender is doing well under the circumstances."

This statement would cause anyone to take a look inside.

The Grand Jury was asked by the District Attorney to investigate changing the way the County provides indigent criminal defense. The DA's office suggested the county could save money by hiring contractors instead of having a Public Defender's office which currently employs 14 attorneys, two investigators, and five office staff.

Since the district attorney's opponent in court while prosecuting the criminal law frequently is the public defender. The Grand Jury said, "Because of this natural competition, his request to explore changing the institution of the public defender appears somewhat suspect. There have been previous unsuccessful efforts
to change El Dorado County away from the public defender system."

The Grand Jury found that Chief Public Defender Teri Monterosso, on the job since 2013, is doing a very good job even though the circumstances surrounding her hiring was suspect. The Jury found that the Board of Supervisors at the time circumvented Human Resources when hiring for the position. She was one of the eight highest ranked applicants of which the Board interviewed three. At that time, the Chief Assistant Public Defender who was not one of the finalists, was a seasoned and well regarded trial lawyer with years of public defender service. He is male and the three who interviewed were all female. The Grand Jury said:

Teri Monterosso has begun her tenure as Public Defender in an almost no-win position. Many of the public defender office attorneys felt that hiring Ms. Monterosso symbolized disrespect for the office and the Chief Assistant. Some outright hostility was shown by the Chief Assistant and other attorneys. Most have applied for other jobs, citing her lack of significant trial experience and her
managerial style and decisions. However, Ms. Monterosso has persevered well during her two and one half years. She has gained the trust of at least half of the office, kept her office within its budget each year, and maintained the office's excellent reputation for criminal defense representation in the county.

It was recommended by the jury that Monterosso be retained and if the county ever looked for another chief Public Defender in the future that they should involve the judges and lawyers in the county and the Board should not be forced to make decisions in an area where it cannot possibly have any actual knowledge let alone expertise.