Loading...
3. Special City Prosecutor AppointmentsCity of Kalispell Post Office Box 1997 - Kalispell, Montana 59903-1997 -Telephone (406)758-7700 Fax(406"1758-7758 TO: Mayor Pamela B. Kennedy and Kalispell City Council FROM: Rich Hickel, Adjutant City Attorney Chris Kukulski, City Manager SUBJECT: Request and Motion to Appoint Scott D. Hagel, Kimberly S. More, and Angela K. Jacobs as Special City Prosecutors MEETING DATE: June 16, 2003 BACKGROUND: This is a request by the Office of the City Attorney to appoint Scott D. Hagel, Kimberly S. More, and Angela K. Jacobs, all associates with the Kalispell law office of Crowley, Haughey, Hanson, Toole & Dietrich, P.L.L.P., as Special City Prosecutors. This will be for a temporary basis during which time they will work in conjunction with the City Attorney's Office to prosecute selected cases in Kalispell Municipal Court. Senior attorneys from the Crowley law firm approached our Office in April, with a proposal offering to provide their talented associate attorneys to this office to present misdemeanor criminal cases for trial in Kalispell Municipal Court, without expense to the City. The Crowley firm is the largest Montana -based law firm and is able to attract highly qualified and talented attorneys to their firm. This experiment was tried with success, in the firm's primary office in Billings, in an arrangement worked out with the Yellowstone County Attorney's Office. The arrangement is mutually beneficial. The associates have the opportunity to obtain valuable courtroom experience, while the City benefits from freeing up attorney time to perform duties which would ordinarily take a back seat to case preparation and presentation. State law (§7-4-4605, M.C.A.) and the City Code (K.C.C. §2-54 (E)) permit arrangements of this type. In addition, the Kalispell Chief of Police has endorsed this generous offer. RECOMMENDATION: The City Attorney's Office views this arrangement as a "win -win" proposition for the attorneys and for the City. This Office likewise appreciates the generosity demonstrated by the Crowley firm and strongly recommends approval of this request and Motion. FISCAL EFFECTS: No adverse fiscal effects are anticipated. Respectfully submitted, kfchard -14. Hickel Adj. City Attorney Chris Kukulski City Manager