County attorney clarifies duties, challenges of position
Staff reporter
When you walk into her office, it is obvious family is important to her. Pictures of children hang on the wall — next to them is their artwork. It serves as a reminder that the person who occupies this office has a life after a work day.
She is Marion County Attorney Susan Robson. For the past seven years, she has been elected to serve as the county's chief law enforcement officer.
"One of the major misconceptions people have about my position is that I am able to give free legal advice to county residents or county employees," Robson said.
After all, she is the county attorney. Right?
Yes, but she is the attorney who represents the county — as in county commissioners, county department heads, and county elected officials.
Robson's primary function as chief law enforcement officer is to prosecute, for the State of Kansas, those cases brought to her by law enforcement agencies within the county.
Her second most important duty is to respond to Child in Need of Care cases which is when someone reports neglect or abuse of a child, or truancy problems. Robson particularly takes those cases to heart.
"I'm stepping into the life of a child to try and make it safer for him or her," she said earnestly.
With this type of work, Robson doesn't always see the benefits of her efforts but once in a while someone will acknowledge her efforts.
"I had someone stop me the other day and basically thank me for prosecuting her," Robson said. Since that time, the individual is in the process of obtaining an education and making an effort to improve her life.
"That's when I know I'm making a difference," she said.
Robson further explained there is a difference between a county attorney and a district attorney. The job is the same but the area that the district attorney covers is a more populated one.
As a state prosecutor, Robson spends half of her work days in the courtroom and it pretty much is a full-time job.
There was a time when the county attorney could maintain an active private practice but those days are gone. Court dates, investigations, and an increase in prosecutions have made it nearly impossible.
"And there's the conflict of interest issue," Robson said, which is always a consideration being in a small county, a small town, and as a member of an active firm.
In addition to prosecuting for crimes and advising the county, the county attorney also reviews and signs all payment vouchers and employee payrolls.
"About 80 percent of my job is prosecution and 20 percent is administration," she said.
Included in the 20 percent is drawing up resolutions and legal documents for the commission and various departments, and reviewing contracts and legal activities for each department.
Robson and her family live in Marion. As a member of this community, she participates in various school and civic activities, attends church, and shops in the same town where some of those who have been prosecuted also live and work.
"Sometimes it's tough to go to the store and see someone whom you've dealt with in court but that's part of it in a small town where everybody knows everybody else," Robson said.
That's also why she says she is committed to doing the best she can.
"I'm dealing with people's lives — people I know. I feel the pressure of doing a good job," Robson said. "I want to make sure I do the right thing."
In the past seven years, Robson has noticed a decrease in search warrants for methamphetamine labs but has noticed an increase in sexual abuse crimes.
Obligated to follow state statutes, Robson said there is less "wiggle room" in prosecuting those for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. State statutes do not allow diversions as before.
"The same is true of sex crimes," Robson said. "Mandatory prison sentences don't give me much plea bargaining ability which doesn't give people an incentive to plead."
Don't get her wrong. Robson wants the "bad guy" to get a fair trial and the sentence he deserves but the tightening of laws limits her negotiating power.
Computerization has become an important part of her office with a new program recently installed that allows access to law enforcement and district court records. Eventually, there will be a paperless trail for the prosecutor.
At the end of the day, Robson hopes her efforts have made a difference in the county and the lives of the people she serves.
