Dall

LA GRANDE — “There’s a farmer, and he lives in this little village,” Defense Attorney Rick Dall began the story before the treatment court in the Union County Courthouse on Tuesday, June 27.

“The village committee goes to him, and says, ‘Hey, we’d like you to be involved in this committee that we’re forming.’ And the farmer looks at the committee members and says, ‘Well, do you want me to be involved or committed?’ And they look at him and say, ‘Well, what’s the difference?’ And he says, ‘Well, it’s like having eggs and bacon for breakfast. If you have eggs and bacon for breakfast, the chicken is involved, the pig is committed,’” he said.

Dall, employing one of the many analogies in his arsenal, explained why, after over 20 years as a defense attorney representative on the Union County Adult Treatment Court team, he is stepping down from the position. He was presented with a recognition plaque for his service by Union County Circuit Court Judge Thomas Powers.

“I cannot be involved in treatment court. I have to be committed, and right now I couldn’t be committed,” Dall said. “I love the program. It is a good program but my time just wasn’t there.”

Powers said the treatment court team appreciates everything Dall has done as a member and will miss him.

“Rick was one the original founders of the treatment court in Union County and in Wallowa County,” he said. “I mean, really, this program wouldn’t have existed without Rick and a handful of people 20 years ago, and it would not have been sustained for two decades without Rick’s ongoing commitment to the program.”

The Union County Adult Treatment Court, which began in 2002, looks to help residents of Union County who are 18 years or older with addictions to controlled substances and alcohol abuse. Currently, 40 participants are involved in the program, with an average of 33, according to the Union County Treatment Court website.

“Rick Dall has had a hand in the success of every single one of the treatment court participants that have been successful, not just graduates, but anybody who has seen some level of sobriety and success in the program, which is countless,” Union County District Attorney Kelsie McDaniel said. “We will sincerely miss working with (him) in this capacity.”

Dall said he will continue to practice law as a public defender, as well as in his private practice.

“Statistically, people that go through the program either are less likely to reoffend as far as criminal charges, but they’re also more likely to stay clean and sober,” Dall said.

“I think that’s what I’m going to miss most of all, just seeing the people that have worked the program who graduate and then you see in the community and they’re still going strong.”