I do not know how the assignments are made. Luck of the draw?
Never mind: the article points out that due to a conflict of interest, the public defender's office declined to provide legal representation. Well, not exactly. Keep reading.
Attorney assigned to represent Fields is plaintiff in statue removal suit
The Daily Progress staff reports 1 hr ago
The attorney assigned to represent the Ohio man accused of plowing his car into counter-protesters at a white nationalist rally in Charlottesville is a plaintiff in the lawsuit against the city regarding the removal of Confederate statues.
James Alex Fields Jr. made his first court appearance Monday morning, appearing via live video. He said he could not afford a lawyer, and has no ties to the Charlottesville area. ... Fields is charged with second-degree murder and other counts after authorities say he drove into the crowd, fatally injuring one woman and hurting 19 others.
After denying Fields bond, the judge assigned attorney Charles "Buddy" Weber to represent Fields. In 2013, Weber ran for Charlottesville City Council as a Republican. ... Fields' next court appearance is scheduled for Aug. 25.
Charlottesville's public defender's office declined to represent Fields citing a conflict because someone in the office was connected to the crash Saturday.
....
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Ned Oliver of the Richmond Times-Dispatch contributed to this report.
Bail denied for alleged driver of car in Charlottesville; public defenders decline to represent, citing relative injured in crash
BY NED OLIVER Richmond Times-Dispatch 44 min ago
CHARLOTTESVILLE - The man accused of killing one person and injuring 19 in a car attack was held without bail by Charlottesville District Court Judge Robert Downer.
James A. Fields, 20, appeared via video conference from jail Monday morning. Downer told him that the public defenders office would typically represent him, but that a relative of an employee was injured in the crash and the office had informed him that it could not take him as a client.
Instead he appointed attorney Charles Weber from a list of possible court appointed attorneys. Downer described Weber as "very experienced" and set a Aug. 25 hearing to reconsider bond once Fields has had an opportunity to consult with Weber.
Weber is a plaintiff in the lawsuit against the city regarding the removal of Confederate statues. In 2013, Weber ran for Charlottesville City Council as a Republican.
....
The Daily Progress contributed to this report.
Outside the courthouse, two men screamed that a black city councilman was to blame for the violence, not racists and white nationalists.
noliver@timesdispatch.com
(804) 649-6178
Twitter: @nedoliver
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