Cincinnati Judge rejects plea for more funds for capital defense

Average capital defense cost

The average taxpayer-funded cost to represent those charged in death-penalty cases in Hamilton County in Fiscal Years:

2006 – $15,112;
2007 – $23,111;
2008 – $24,918;
2009 – $32,196;
2010 – $14,630;
2011 – $20,553;
2012 – $16,760.

Source: Ohio Public Defender

Cincinnati civil rights lawyer Bob Newman is on a mission to increase funding for capital defense.  In Hamilton County, Ohio death penalty defense layers are paid$4/hour with a cap of $22,500.  Newman has gained the support of the Ohio Prosecutors Association but five judges have turned him down.