FAYETTEVILLE A federal lawsuit against a district judge in Benton County for failing to appoint lawyers for defendants at first appearance hearings should not be granted class action status, according to a response from public defenders Monday.
An Arkansas federal judge has kept alive a suit challenging a state court's failure to appoint counsel to indigent clients prior to their bail hearings, saying the defendants can't escape the claims based on sovereign immunity and declaring that appointed counsel provides "critical assistance" during a bail hearing.
FAYETTEVILLE State public defenders are asking a federal judge to abstain from hearing a lawsuit over whether criminal defendants should be provided a lawyer at first appearance and bond hearings.
Lawyers who sued a judge in Benton County over whether criminal defendants should be provided a lawyer at first appearance and bond hearings want to add more defendants.
Lawyers who sued a judge in Benton County over whether criminal defendants should be provided a lawyer at first appearance and bond hearings want to add more defendants.