Chief Justice disappointed in lack of progress in Nichols case and urges attorneys and the judge to re-examine their actions and try to move forward.

From the Associated Press:

[Georgia Supreme Court] Chief Justice Leah Ward Sears wrote that . . . she is disappointed with the progress of the Nichols case.

"As officers of the court, counsel for both the prosecution and the defense have professional responsibilities, not only to their clients, but to the judicial system itself," a concurrence by Sears and another justice states. It adds, "Neither side is allowed to seek to derail the process entirely."

Sears urged the attorneys and the judge "to re-examine their actions thus far in light of their professional duties and to proceed in a manner calculated to achieve a fair and expeditious resolution of this matter."

The Georgia Public Defender Standards Council has said that because of the amount of money already spent on Nichols' defense so far - $1.8 million as of the end of June, according to the council - there isn't enough money for other cases.

The council has told [presiding Judge] Fuller it can't afford to pay the defense [consisting of four attorneys] any more money.