Ind. Courts - More on: "Marion County's chief public defender stepping down"

Updating this ILB entry from Dec. 7, 2007. quoting a story from the Indianapolis Star which began:

Marion County Chief Public Defender David E. Cook will leave his post in February after 12 years in charge of the agency that represents indigent defendants in Marion Superior Court, he confirmed this morning.

Cook resigned this week, but he won't step down until Feb. 15 to give county leaders time to appoint a successor.

Jon Murray of the Star reports today:

The two candidates for Marion County's chief public defender both have experience defending death-penalty clients and extensive ties to the agency. Robert J. Hill Jr. and Eric K. Koselke will be the choices when the Public Defender Agency's nine-member board meets Wednesday to vote.

The decision will determine the first new leader in 13 years for an agency that provides criminal defense for indigent clients in 37,000 cases a year. The board released the candidates' names Thursday.

Hill, who stepped down from the board so he could apply for the job, is a former deputy chief public defender under departing Chief Public Defender David E. Cook.

Koselke also has worked for the agency. Before its creation in the early 1990s, he was the chief public defender in Marion County's municipal courts.

Cook's last day is March 14. Jimmie McMillian, the board's chairman, said it may consider appointing an interim leader because ratification by the City-County Council may take a month or longer. The position pays a $110,500 salary.

The pool began with 10 applicants. A third candidate, Mark E. Kamish, made the short list but withdrew his name, McMillian said.

Wednesday's meeting, at 11:45 a.m. in Room 260 of the City-County Building, will be open to the public, with short final interviews with Hill and Koselke before the vote.