SALT LAKE CITY (AP)—
A federal judge has denied a request by the federal public defender's office to withdraw from representing the man charged in the 2002 abduction of Elizabeth Smart. In court papers filed Tuesday, defense attorney Robert Steele said the office has a conflict with a witness set to provide testimony about Brian David Mitchell next week. Steele says the unnamed witness was previously represented by the public defender's office.He says that leaves the defense in an ethical quandary because attorneys may need to draw on unflattering information about the former client.
U.S. District Judge Dale Kimball rejected the request Tuesday afternoon.
Mitchell is charged with kidnapping and unlawful transportation of a minor. His competency is in dispute and a hearing is set to begin Monday.
(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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