Public Defender To Resign Position

After a year and a half as the Kootenai County public defender, Jonathan Hull said Monday he plans to resign his position.

Hull notified county officials last week but said he will stay on until his position is filled.

“I decided it was a good time to step back and re-evaluate what I was going to do with the rest of my life,” Hull said Monday.

His resignation comes after two years of heartache in his personal life.

Hull’s father died in 1992, and his mother died in 1993. Earlier this year, Hull’s wife of 15 years died after a battle with cancer.

“This is very stressful employment even under the best circumstances,” Hull said. “I always want to do my very best. I think it’s a very important job.”

Hull worked as the chief deputy public defender since 1989. He was appointed to the head public defender’s job in November 1993.

“He runs his department very much autonomously and I think he’s done a very good job,” said Dick Compton, Kootenai County commissioner.

Hull said he has not yet decided what he will do next. He asked that the position be filled within 60 days.

Judge Gary Haman said he will select a panel of attorneys to help choose a new public defender. County commissioners will make the final decision.