Judge rejects outside lawyer for OVIC suit

Judge David Frazier last week rejected the request by Whitman County commissioners to hire an outside attorney to defend them against an injunction suit filed by the citizen Organization to Void Illegal Conduct.

Prosecutor Denis Tracy Tuesday said he was ready to act as the county’s counsel, but commissioners said they had already asked the judge to reconsider his decision.

“I don’t think he could represent us fairly,” said Commissioner Greg Partch.

In a letter sent last Thursday, Frazier said the legal questions in the lawsuit did not require expertise beyond that of Tracy, whom commissioners...