Document ID: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-ared-4_05-cr-00139/USCOURTS-ared-4_05-cr-00139-2/pdf.json

Parties Involved:
Joshua Lee Howe
Defendant
Robert Lee Phillips
Defendant
United States of America
Plaintiff

Document Text:

1

The motion was filed under seal as it contained defense theories. The motion may

remain under seal; however, the Court is not persuaded that a sealing of this Order is warranted. 

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF ARKANSAS

 WESTERN DIVISION

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA PLAINTIFF

vs. CASE NO. 4:05CR000139GH

JOSHUA LEE HOWE

AND ROBERT LEE PHILLIPS DEFENDANTS

ORDER

As the United States was possibly seeking the death penalty in this case, two counsel were

appointed to represent each defendant. On February 2, 2007, the government advised the Court

that it would not seek the death penalty.

Defendant Phillips has filed a motion under seal to continue appointment of both attorneys

representing him.1 No request has been made by defendant Howe.

Defendants in capital cases are entitled to the appointment of two attorneys. 18 U.S.C. §

3005. In a non-capital case indigent defendants are entitled to the appointment of counsel;

additional counsel is not warranted unless the case is extremely difficult. See Guide to Judiciary

Policies and Procedures, Chapter 2, § 2.11B. See also Section VI. H, Eastern District of Arkansas

Criminal Justice Plan, adopted February 26, 1998. The Guide also provides that as soon as

practicable after a decision not to seek the death penalty, the number of appointed counsel and

hourly rate should be reviewed in accordance with § 6.02B(2). See Guide, Chapter 6. 

That section provides:

The court should, absent extenuating circumstances, make an

appropriate reduction in the number of counsel. In deciding whether

there are extenuating circumstances, the court should consider the

following factors: 

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(a) the need to avoid disruption of the proceedings;

(b) whether the decision not to seek the death penalty occurred late in the litigation;

(c) whether the case is unusually complex; and

(d) any other factors that would interfere with the need to ensure effective

representation of the defendant.

In addition, the court should, absent extenuating circumstances, reduce (only

prospectively) the compensation rate. In determining whether there are extenuating

circumstances, the court should consider the following factors:

(a) the extent to which this representation precludes counsel from taking other work;

(b) the commitment of time and resources counsel has made and will continue to

make in the case; and

(c) the need to compensate appointed counsel fairly. 

In this case, the Magistrate Judge first appointed William Owen James, Jr. to reprseent

Howe (docket entry 13). He thereafter appointed Herbert T. Wright, Jr. as co-counsel for Howe

(docket entry 17). Howe subsequently sought replacement of counsel (docket entry 61) and the

Magistrate Judge relieved Wright and James and appointed Sam Heuer and Madison P. Aydelott

to represent Howe (docket entry 63). 

The Magistrate Judge appointed J. Blake Hendrix to represent Phillips on June 2, 2005

(docket entry 25). Pursuant to Phillps’ motion, the Court appointed Jeff Rosenzweig as co-counsel

(docket entry 37).

The Court is not persuaded that this case is so complex as to require that each defendant

have two attorneys. The attorneys representing defendants are seasoned defense attorneys, and

have experience with murder prosecutions at both the state court and federal court level. The trial

is set for July 9, 2007 and counsel should have sufficient time to prepare. The Court will consider

the appointment of additional counsel at a later date should the case become unusually complex.

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Based on the submissions filed to date, it appears that Heuer has taken a more active role

in representing Howe.

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Thus, the Court hereby relieves Rosenzweig as co-counsel for Phillips and Aydelott as cocounsel for Howe.2

 The Court thanks both for their representation of defendants. Hendrix and

Heuer shall be compensated at the rate for non-capital cases. 

Accordingly, the motion to continue appointment of counsel is denied. 

 IT IS SO ORDERED this 2nd day of March, 2007.

___________________________________

UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE 

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