Video: Benton County commissioners grill judge over letter

At its regularly scheduled meeting on Feb. 9, the three-member Benton County Commission turned up the heat on a local judge over a letter opposing any plan to divide the Benton-Franklin judicial district over administrative costs.

The seven members of the Benton-Franklin Superior Court bench unanimously opposed any movement to divide the combined court operations, saying it would be costly and would impede the administration of justice in the community.

Judge Cameron Mitchell attended the meeting by video conference and fielded a series of hostile questions from all three commissioners over the course of nearly half an hour. Shon Small, commission chair, said later the encounter was professional and reflected the individual members’ passion for the job.

The Benton-Franklin judicial district has operated since 1951 and as part of a larger region since Washington statehood.

Benton County alleges it subsidizes Franklin County more than $660,000 in administrative costs. Commissioner Jerome Delvin asked Sen. Mike Hewitt, R.-Walla Walla, to consider introducing legislation to divide the district. Hewitt said he would only do so if four of the six county commissioners signed on. Since all three Franklin commissioners oppose it, the matter died.

Franklin County says it wants to pay its fair share of administrative costs but wants independent verification that the numbers are correct.

The Tri-City Herald received video of the tense Feb. 9 meeting through a public records request.

This story was originally published February 16, 2016 at 6:37 PM with the headline "Video: Benton County commissioners grill judge over letter."