Constitutional Law
Judge who denied public defender to college student abused discretion, appeals court says
An Ohio judge abused his discretion by denying a public defender to a college student whose parents refused to pay for an attorney to represent her in a criminal case, a state appellate court has ruled.
Although Kelly Kasler, 22, is financially dependent on her parents to pay her tuition at Ohio University, they have no obligation to support her. Hence, the Fourth District Court of Appeals said in a Friday decision, Municipal Judge William A. Grim abused his discretion by finding that they could afford to pay for her lawyer, the Columbus Dispatch reports.
Kasler faces charges of obstructing official business and resisting arrest related to a celebration of Halloween last year.
