With a steady increase in caseload the Hubbard County Attorney’s office brought on additional staff and a familiar face.
Jonathan Frieden resumed a role this week as an assistant county attorney, a position he held previously from 2010-14. Amy Card was hired on as office support staff.
Frieden is back with Hubbard County and replaces former assitant county attorney Erika Randall, who took a position with Beltrami County.
Kristine Peterson-Lahr is also an assistant attorney to Dearstyne on the Hubbard County prosecution team.
Frieden most recently worked in private practice for the firm Thomason, Swanson & Zahn of Park Rapids. This private practice work on the side of the defense in criminal cases provided valuable experience as he returns to the prosecution side.
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“I’m very excited. The situation was that I thought I could help the county and the last 15 months helped me realize how much I missed being a prosecutor,” Frieden said.
Hubbard County Attorney Don Dearstyne said Frieden’s experience as both a defense attorney and prosecutor are very valuable.
“It’s good he has defense experience. I think that makes for a very well rounded prosecutor,” Dearstyne said. “He can look at things from a defense standpoint and get different perspectives, as opposed to someone who has done nothing but prosecute.”
Friedman will do the same work the county attorney does, including criminal cases involving prosecution of misdemeanor, gross misdemeanor and felony charges, civil suits, and social services areas of child protection and guardianship.
“I learned a ton at Thomason, Swanson & Zahn,” he said. “Private practice is like the same sport but different divisions. The people over there are very, very nice. I’ve got nothing but good things to say about them.”
Card will work as support staff and brings 17 years experience with emergency management and Homeland Security. Card also worked eight years with the St. Peter’s Police Department in dispatch, records and the jail.
“I’m looking forward to getting back to the law enforcement side of things,” Card said. “I’m very excited about that.
She moved here with husband, Jim Card, who is a new deputy hired in Hubbard County.
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Dearstyne said the 2015 caseload was 30 percent higher than 2014, and so far this year in 2016 they are 60-65 cases ahead of last year.
“Our caseload continues to increase,” Dearstyne said. “I’m happy to have them on board. This will give a relief to the office because we’re stretched very thin.”
Much of that increase comes with the social services casesload in dealing with child protection casese. Governor Dayton wants social services, county attorney and law enforcement agencies to staff these cases. For Dearstyne’s office that takes time from screening to staying in contact with the other agencies.
The county attorney’s office is also involved in social services cases where foster care and guardianships are needed.
Dearstyne said the county board recognized the increase in workload for his office and he appreciates the commissioners authorizing the resources to hire additional staff.
“I’m looking forward to the rest of this year and into 2017,” Dearstyne added. “I think a lot of good things are happening in Hubbard County.”
Along with Dearstyne and now Frieden and Card, the Hubbard County Attorney’s Office also consists of assistant county attorney Kristine Peterson-Lahr; Kay Leeseberg and Dee Persons, secretary staff; and Jill Christianson, victim advocate.
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