An out-of-state public defender is the right way to go

Editor:

In response to Mr. Hanawalt's letter concerning the hiring of someone out of state to head up the public defender's office, I have to say, give credit where credit is due.

The justice system in Montana is so loaded with nepotism and the cronyism it doesn't even function sometimes when there is a need for a judge, county attorney or a law officer to stand for what is right not just popular.

We have the county attorney hire an assistant, then run for judge, then the assistant county attorney runs for county attorney. Then the public tries to get justice and the "good old boys" don't listen.

The money that the nepotism and cronyism costs us as taxpayer runs in the millions — compared to the wages the chief public defender gets, it is no real comparison.

You need to look no further than Missoula right now to see the problem.

The governor did the right thing in looking for an unrelated chief who owes no favors to anyone.

Ruben J. McKinney

Havre