Public Defenders await High Court ruling - WALB.com, Albany News, Weather, Sports

Public Defenders await High Court ruling

Posted: Updated:
  • More WALB News10 HeadlinesMore News Headlines

  • Monday, May 20 2013 11:25 AM EDT2013-05-20 15:25:03 GMT
    Two men, one black and one white, burst into the Petro Store at the intersection of Highway 200 and Highway 45 Sunday night, and attacked the clerk, stealing money. The victim told authorities that the
    Two men, one black and one white, burst into the Petro Store at the intersection of Highway 200 and Highway 45 Sunday night, and attacked the clerk, stealing money.
  • Monday, May 20 2013 10:54 AM EDT2013-05-20 14:54:19 GMT
    Information from the Georgia Lottery- ATLANTA – A Valdosta man has won a huge jackpot prize playing Fantasy 5. William Gilbert, 71, matched all five numbers from the May 16 Fantasy 5 drawing, winning
    William Gilbert, 71, matched all five numbers from the May 16 Fantasy 5 drawing, winning the 484,201 jackpot prize. Barretts, 6685 Bemiss Road in Valdosta, sold the Quik Pik ticket.
  • Monday, May 20 2013 10:45 AM EDT2013-05-20 14:45:59 GMT
    Thomasville Police Officers responded to Walmart in reference to a shoplifting Sunday night. Employees told police a man left the store with a shopping cart full of items without paying. The employees
    Thomasville Police Officers responded to Walmart in reference to a shoplifting Sunday night. Employees said the man pulled knife and began swing it at them. He then ran to a vehicle parked in the parking lot and attempted to leave however, but the car would not start, so he took off running.

By Jennifer Emert - bio | email

ALBANY, GA (WALB) - The struggling Georgia public defenders system could end up in financial ruins if the state Supreme Court holds it financially responsible for a death penalty case.

The high court will decide who should pay the bill in a 1995 Burke County death penalty case. If the court decides it's the public defenders office-- even though they weren't in existance then-- it could bankrupt the system.

The district attorney's office says it's important that the entire court systems receives proper funding.

"If they don't get a fair trial then it doubles the work for everybody," said Dougherty District Attorney Greg Edwards. "If the court of appeals finds that a defendant wasn't appropriately represented, if the state is successful in prosecuting the case via a jury trial then we have to retry it then that doubles the cost."

Currently shortfalls in funding has the District Attorney's office furloughing employees one day every month.

Feedback