State Appeals Court takes no action on contempt citations

(Oklahoma City-AP) -- The Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals hasn't decided whether it will uphold a contempt citation against the director of the state's indigent defense system after his agency

Tuesday, November 26th 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

(Oklahoma City-AP) -- The Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals hasn't decided whether it will uphold a contempt citation against the director of the state's indigent defense system after his agency couldn't provide attorneys for two Kay County men in jail.

Director Jim Bednar asked the Court of Appeals to stay the contempt citation filed by a Kay County judge, because he says his agency doesn't have enough money to hire outside lawyers.

Bednar says state budget cuts have forced him to lay off people and cut funds that would be used to hire attorneys for people whose court-appointed attorneys had a conflict of interest.

Jurists said in Monday's hearing that basic legal rights of the Constitution should be considered, such as providing a lawyer for the accused.

Bednar says he will ask lawmakers to allow the agency to use four million in unappropriated money to shore up accounts.