Julie M. Bayerl, leadership assistant for State Senator Tom Bakk, informed the Cook County Board of Commissioners at the December 16, 2014 meeting that legislation had been drafted to reimburse Cook County for prosecution fees incurred during the court proceedings against former County Attorney Tim Scannell.
U.S. Attorney Thomas Heffelfinger was hired to prosecute Scannell, the county’s attorney at the time. Additional witness fees and witness hotel costs added $4,337.84, which brought the county’s total to $165,063.
Scannell was convicted by a Duluth jury on two counts of fourth degree sexual conduct regarding his improper relationship with a 17-year-old girl. He had been on a medical leave of absence (with pay) since October 15, 2013 from injuries suffered in a December, 2011 courthouse shooting following the conviction of an adult who had sexual relations with a minor.
Immediately following the conviction, the county board made a motion to take Scannell off of the county payroll. His assistant, Molly Hicken, was appointed to act as county attorney. Hicken was elected to serve in that capacity starting January 2, 2015 following the fall election where she ran unopposed.
“Our Senate counsel confirmed that this reimbursement has been done in the past,” Bayerl wrote the county board.
On January 8, Representative David Dill (DFL) 3A, started the ball rolling when he brought forth a bill seeking $163,000 to reimburse Cook County for its legal fees. Under this legislative action Cook County would receive “a one-time appropriation” that would transfer from the state’s general fund to the state court administrator, which would then reimburse Cook County for the prosecution fees and any associated expenses of a special prosecutor appointed by the attorney general.
When asked when the bill will be heard, Representative Dill said, “Good question. I can’t answer that yet as the House and Senate are still organizing and bills won’t be heard for a week or so. My best guess is that it’s [the bill] an end of session thing as the House and Senate close up on bills.”
Senator Bakk (DFL 3A), is also bringing the same request to the Senate. To date he has brought forth 15 bills, most of them organizational pieces as the legislature begins its work for the winter session.
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