JAMESTOWN, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – Numerous State’s Attorney offices in various counties continue to struggle with filling open positions in their departments.

Stutsman County State’s Attorney Fritz Fremgen says his office has been short one attorney since Jan. 2022. In that time, three law school graduates have applied and two offers were made. Both declined those offers.

Fremgen says Stutsman County is currently hiring at $68,815. He says other counties are experiencing the same turnover Stutsman County has in recent years.

Fremgen told the Stutsman County Commission Tuesday that there are currently 22 investigations waiting to be considered for charges including GSI and negligent homicide. He says he focuses on cases that have a deadline.

“I’m not fast enough to get this backlog worked down,” Fremgen says in his report. “I settle most first time DUIs for reckless. I have turned away juvenile unruly cases. I’ll continue to consider declining requests to charge minor cases that do not have an individual victim.”

He informed the commission that he welcomes ideas and open discussion on how to address these issues within the county.