Commissioners Fire Public Defender

Orginally posted at 9:42 a.m. Saturday, March 23

Item: Public defender John Adams to be history / David Cole, Coeur d’Alene Press

More Info: The Kootenai County commissioners unanimously passed a resolution on Tuesday to end his term this fall. “It’s absolutely a termination,” Adams said. Adams said the termination notice comes three weeks after he made a formal complaint against Commissioner Jai Nelson, saying she had allegedly harassed him since she joined the board. The notice comes two weeks after Adams, 59, told Commission Chairman Todd Tondee that he has cancer and will be undergoing chemotherapy and will need a day off each week for the treatment. Facing the loss of his health insurance is scary, Adams said.

Question: John Adams is recognized by many as one of Idaho’s best public defenders. What does this say for the county commissioners?