Chaffee and Fremont County Commissioners say they’re concerned over a recent change in the office of 11th Judicial District Attorney Linda Stanley.
They say her office is now operating on a four-day, 32-hour week, and they believe the decision will hinder the office’s ability to prosecute criminal cases. Chaffee County Commissioner Greg Felt said, “It’s not a game. We’re seeing cases dismissed, we’re seeing sanctions that lead to lighter sentences for truly serious crimes.”
The commissioners argued the schedule change will have a ripple effect and possibly jeopardize the prosecution of criminal cases. They believe Stanley’s office was already falling behind in processing evidence and managing the workload during the 40-hour workweek and that this will only exacerbate the problem.
RELATED: Colorado Supreme Court Files Complaint Against 11th Judicial District Attorney Linda Stanley
District Attorney Stanley told KRDO news that the change in hours comes after months of research on worker productivity and since the majority of cases are heard Monday through Thursday, they are trying a new schedule to see what works best for employees.
Stanley is no stranger to controversy. Right now, Stanley is facing a state complaint looking to discipline her for misconduct, and she’s also facing a lawsuit from Barry Morphew, over comments she made to media outlets about the murder investigation into his wife.
Chaffee County Commissioners referenced the Morphew lawsuit in their meeting, arguing that Stanley spends more time working on her defense in that case than her job responsibilities.
It is necessary to note that county commissioners have no direct control over the district attorney’s office. They do, however, control the office’s budget.
