Posted on 02/19/2010 4:17:49 PM PST by Libloather
Add On Says State Should Pay Only Public Defenders
By Rob Moritz
Arkansas News Bureau
Friday, February 19, 2010 8:56 AM CST
LITTLE ROCK — A legislative panel endorsed a proposal Thursday that would prevent the state from paying the legal fees of lawyers hired by criminal defendants.
The amendment was proposed in response to a recent circuit judge’s ruling that ordered the state to pay the legal bills of Abdulhakim Muhammad, accused of shooting one soldier to death and wounding another at a west Little Rock recruiting center.
The Arkansas Public Defender Commission has appealed the Pulaski County circuit judge’s ruling to the state Supreme Court.
The amendment to the Arkansas Public Defender Commission budget would not affect Muhammad, said the amendment’s sponsor, Sen. Jim Luker, D-Wynne.
Muhammad’s family hired an attorney, who then billed the state, Luker said.
“This language would ... limit the court’s ability to order the payment out of the network defense,” he said.
The Public Defender Commission is a state agency that provides legal services to the indigent.
Pulaski County Circuit Judge Herb Wright in January ordered the commission to pay Muhammad’s legal expenses because he is too poor to pay the cost of defending himself.
Muhammad has been charged with capital murder, attempted capital murder and unlawful discharge of a weapon in the shooting death of Army Pvt. William Long of Conway and wounding of Pvt. Quinton Ezeagwula of Jacksonville. The shootings occurred June 1 as the two stood outside the Army-Navy Career Center in west Little Rock.
Muhammad has claimed the shootings were justified because of U.S. military actions in the Middle East.
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — Arkansas lawmakers want to prevent the state from paying the legal bills for criminal defendants who have hired private attorneys.
A proposal endorsed Thursday by the Joint Budget Committee would allow payment only for lawyers who get clients through the Arkansas Public Defender Commission. The measure is in response to Abdulhakim Muhammad's request that the state pay his legal bills.
Muhammad is charged with capital murder of Army Pvt. William Long and the wounding of another soldier outside a Little Rock recruiting station. He's claimed the shootings were justified because of U.S. military action in the Middle East.
The proposed restriction wouldn't affect Muhammad because it is included in the commission's budget for next fiscal year.
http://www.fox16.com/news/state/story/Panel-wants-to-restrict-funds-for-defense-lawyers/KdM740lHGUW6Jhl6g7Dbzg.cspx?rss=316
How does one read “Add On Says State . . .”
The original headline really says this, but I have no idea what it means. Was there a person named “Add On”?
Substitute "Amendment" for "Add On" and I think you'll understand.
This is so strange, kill someone, then hire your own attorney, then let the taxpayers pay for them.
Thank you. That makes sense, but the headline is a little obscure.
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