Public defenders agree to slash spending

After threatening not to roll back expenses, Georgia's struggling public defenders are begrudgingly slashing the system's budget. Today's decision comes two weeks after leaders angrily defied Gov. Sonny Perdue's order to cut the program's budget by 6 percent. The public defender system, like most other state agencies, was ordered to propose cuts of at least 6 percent to help meet a $1.6 billion shortfall. But the system is in the midst of a sharp budget crisis, as its budget has been cut from $42 million to $35 million over the last three years.

Nichols judge considers contempt charges

In the case of accused courthouse shooter Brian Nichols, the judge said today he will consider whether to hold the state public defender office in contempt for not complying with previous orders to fully fund Nichols’ defense. Nichols’ lawyers have argued the state hasn’t provided enough money to cover his legal costs, which have already reached two million dollars. Attorneys said the defense team hasn't been paid since July 1st. Nichols is charged with killing four people in March 2005 after escaping custody at the Fulton County Courthouse.

Judge: Nichols will face death penalty if convicted

Today a Superior Court judge denied a request to bar the death penalty if accused Fulton County Courthouse killer Brian Nichols is convicted of murder. The judge also denied a request to delay Nichols’ trial. He did order the state public defender's office to pay certain expenses related to Nichols' defense. Nichols’ lawyers say the public defenders’ office is underfunded, partially because Nichols’ defense has already cost the state nearly 2-million dollars.

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' defense tops $2 million

The state public defenders office says the total cost of defending Brian Nichols in the Fulton County Courthouse shootings could reach $2.4 million.

The projection by the Georgia Public Defender Standards Council would be six times the average cost of a death penalty case.

Mounting defense costs in the case had forced a judge to put off the trial until September 10th.

And a projection released by the public defender council shows that another $600,000 in fees and expenses could add to that total by the end of the trial, based on the trial lasting six months as expected.

Meanwhile, Nichols' lawyers have been preparing a mental health defense.

Public defenders running dry

Georgia’s budget for public defenders across the state will run out by October, according to officials. The Georgia Public Defender Council says it was already under funded, but one high-profile case is eating up money fast. That’s the defense of Fulton County courthouse shooting suspect Brian Nichols. The council’s managing deputy director told lawmakers this week that Nichols’ defense has already cost 1.8 million dollars.

Public defender head leaving post

The director of a state public defender's office is stepping down in July. Mike Mears says his decision to leave the Georgia Public Defender Standards Council has nothing to do with pressures he has faced to solve a funding crisis at the agency. A budget shortfall has led to problems funding defense costs for indigent cases around the state, including the death penalty case of accused Atlanta Courthouse Killer Brian Nichols. Mears plans to join the faculty at John Marshall Law School in Atlanta.