HOUGHTON — 12th Circuit Court Judge Brittany Bulleit is interviewing three candidates for the vacant Houghton County prosecutor position this week, she said at Tuesday’s Houghton County Board meeting.

Paul LaBine, who was appointed to the position in July, resigned from the position last month, citing a lack of resources and salaries that were not high enough to attract applicants for open positions in the office.

Members of the state attorney general’s office are handling prosecution of larger cases in the meantime, while smaller cases are being delayed, said Sheriff Joshua Saaranen.

Under state law, the circuit court judge is responsible for appointing the prosecutor. They would then hold that position until after the 2024 general election.

The board had been slated to tackle an agenda item recommended at the board’s budget meeting. That would increase the salaries for the prosecutor and chief assistant prosecutor position, some of which would come from another assistant prosecutor position that had gone unfilled.

Acting on a request from Bulleit, the commissioners tabled the matter until after a prosecutor is lined up.

“Changing salaries, or changing how many people they might want in the office, I think that should be something they could address with you, not something I should be addressing,” Bulleit said.