Today human rights groups urged state leaders to pony up more money for Georgia's indigent defense system. The system has faced funding problems, job cuts and a cash drain due to the death penalty case of accused courthouse gunman Brian Nichols. Nichols defense has already cost nearly $2 million. Indigent defenders, whose primary source of funding is criminal and civil fines and court fees, say they need more money to meet obligations to poor defendants across the state.
(V. Edwards)
Rev. R.L. White, (c), Exec. Dir., Atlanta Chapter NAACP,
flanked by members of the civil rights community
protest lack of funding for state's indigent defense fund.
