S.L. County D.A. Wants More Staffers

None by Eric Ray

Says Needs Include Nine New Attorneys

(KCPW News) Salt Lake County District Attorney Lohra Miller says she needs 40 new employees in order to accommodate her office's growing caseload.

At a press conference today, Miller publicly asked that the 2008 budget for her office include enough money to hire nine new attorneys and 31 support staffers. She estimates the cost at about $3 million. She says that with rising crime rates, attorneys in her office will have an annual caseload of over 200 by years end. The American Bar Association recommends an average caseload of 150 per prosecutor. As of now, the 2008 budget will allow her to hire seven new staff members, however none of those seven will be attorneys.

Miller's critics say policy changes she has made since taking office is another reason attorneys are leaving. Miller agrees the exodus is alarming, however she says she is making the changes she promised to make while running for office, and it's up to the prosecutors in her office to decide if they are comfortable with those changes.

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