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SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah Supreme Court will allow a state court judge to reconsider a motion he previously denied that could mean new attorneys for Curtis Allgier, who is accused of killing a corrections officer.
A defense motion to withdraw as counsel to Allgier was previously denied by 3rd District Judge Paul Maughan, prompting defense attorneys for the 31-year-old man to file an interlocutory appeal with the Utah Supreme Court. The state's high court then halted state court proceedings in the case while they considered the appeal.
Maughan responded by filing a memorandum with the court asking that they allow him to reconsider the issue. The Utah Attorney General's Office filed a motion asking that the Utah Supreme Court lift its stay regarding the motion to withdraw as well.
In an order from Utah Supreme Court Justice Jill Parrish issued Wednesday, the request from the Utah Attorney General's Office was granted.
Allgier has been charged with capital murder and a myriad of other charges in connection with the 2007 shooting death of corrections officer Stephen Anderson. If convicted, he could face the death penalty.
His case was scheduled to go to trial beginning in April, but his attorneys have asked to withdraw, citing a conflict of interest and communication issues.
E-mail:emorgan@ksl.com
