Justices did not rule yesterday. Bowles drew widespread attention in late 1994 because he was suspected in as many as 6 killings in Florida, Georgia and Maryland. He pleaded guilty to 2 slayings in Nassau and Volusia counties and is serving life sentences in those cases. Also yesterday the Supreme Court took up a Jacksonville dispute about whether taxpayers should pay more to private lawyers who are appointed to handle death-penalty appeals. Sheppard argued the rate is far below what attorneys typically charge and could prevent top attorneys from agreeing to take death- penalty cases.
State law requires the chief judge in each judicial circuit to set the rates.
Private lawyers are appointed to handle death-penalty appeals when public defenders cannot. Justices were sympathetic to Sheppard's arguments but questioned whether they could overturn the law. Justice Harry Lee Anstead said taxpayers often pay higher rates to private attorneys who work on issues such as buying land for government road projects.