Nichols judge steps down

The judge presiding in the Brian Nichols murder trial is stepping down. Superior Court Judge Hilton Fuller has quit the case after a magazine article that quoted him as saying Nichols is guilty. Prosecutors have been trying to get Fuller removed from the case because he suspended the trial indefinitely because the state public defender's office cut off funding to Nichols' lawyers. Nichols is accused of killing four people two years ago after fleeing custody from the Fulton County Courthouse.

Nichols judge approves Supreme Court motion

In the case of accused courthouse shooter Brian Nichols … today the judge agreed to allow prosecutors appeal to the state Supreme Court his decision not to remove himself from the case. Superior Court Judge Hilton Fuller granted a prosecution request to certify the issue for immediate review by the high court. Prosecutor are not happy with Fuller after he suspended Nichols' murder trial indefinitely. He tabled the trial because the state public defender's office cut off funding to Nichols' lawyers because of a budget crunch.

Nichols judge could face high court

Prosecutors in the Brian Nichols courthouse shooting want the state Supreme Court to review the judge's refusal to step down from the case. The Fulton County district attorney's office accuses Superior Court Judge Hilton Fuller of being an advocate for the defense. In court papers filed today, the D-A's office asked Fuller to certify its disqualification request for immediate review by the high court. Fuller has indefinitely postponed Nichols' murder trial because of the lack of enough defense funding for the indigent Nichols.

Lawmakers seek records in Nichols case

Lawmakers investigating defense funding in the case of accused courthouse shooter Brian Nichols want to see expense requests made by Nichols’ lawyers. The special house committee’s aim is to determine whether Judge Hilton Fuller is mishandling the case – and wasting money. Nichols’ defense has already cost more than 2-million dollars. The state’s public defender’s council says Nichols’ case has run their budget dry.

Two attorneys defend judge

Two Atlanta attorneys are providing legal advice to a judge who is being sued by a prosecutor. The prosecutor is seeking to have jury selection resume in the murder trial of accused courthouse shooter Brian Nichols. The two lawyer says they feel a "public responsibility" to help Superior Court Judge Hilton Fuller. Fuller suspended the case because Nichols’ public defenders say the state has not provided enough money to cover defense costs.

Public defenders defy judge

Today the state public defender's office voted to defy a judge's order. Judge Hilton Fuller ordered the lawyers to continue funding the defense of accused courthouse killer Brian Nichols. The public defender standards council agreed today to tell Judge Fuller Monday that it can’t afford to pay Nichols’ defense costs and carry out its duty in roughly 80 other death penalty cases. Nichols’ lawyers say his defense has already cost $2-million dollars. Brian Nichols is accused of killing four people in March 2005 during a shooting spree that started at the Fulton County Courthouse in Atlanta.

Judge suspends Nichols trial

A judge has suspended jury selection in the trial of accused courthouse killer Brian Nichols. Superior Court Judge Hilton Fuller was responding to a request by Nichols lawyers that jury selection be suspend until the defense team receives money to pay their fees and expenses. Fuller has ordered the Georgia Public Defender Standards Council to appear at a contempt hearing Monday to explain itself. The council says Nichols’ defense has already cost $2-million dollars, exhausting their budget.

Judge in Nichols cases forces trial forward

The case of accused Atlanta courthouse killer Brian Nichols still has financial problems, but the judge in the case has not ordered any further delays. Superior Court judge Hilton Fuller said Thursday that questioning of prospective jurors will stay on schedule to begin October 15th. However, the judge has expressed concern whether the trial will be fair, as the Nichols defense lawyers have not recently been paid for their services. The Nichols case has been beset by public defender funding problems--it has already cost the state 1.8 million dollars.

Nichols judge reprimands jury evaders

A Fulton County judge has issued arrest warrants for potential jurors in the Brian Nichols' case who ignored a summons to appear in court today.

Judge Hilton Fuller summoned sixty citizens for evading jury duty; more than half didn't show up for the hearing today. He told those that did show up they had two options: either plead guilty to contempt of court and pay a $200 fine or plead not guilty and return for a hearing.

Either way, everyone's name goes back into the Nichols' jury pool.

“It makes no difference to me whether you acknowledge it or not," said Judge Fuller. "Everybody here is a prospective juror no matter what announcements you’ve given me."

Those who pleaded guilty were fined $200 and will have a misdemeanor for contempt of court on record. For those who pleaded not guilty, a hearing is set for September 5.

Brian Nichols is charged with killing four people while trying to escape from the Fulton County Courthouse in March 2005. His long-awaited trial had been delayed for lack of defense funding. It is now scheduled for September 10.