TAMPA UNCUFFED
(2 TAMPA Edition)
St. Petersburg Times - St. Petersburg, Fla.
Author: COLLEEN JENKINS; ABBIE VANSICKLE
Date: Dec 15, 2006
Criminal defense attorney Brian Gonzalez had been looking for a colleague to help represent Eric James Tate, accused of sexually battering and killing a child, ever since prosecutors announced in early October that they would seek the death penalty in his case.
Only a handful of private attorneys In Hillsborough County are certified to handle death penalty cases, and they were staying away.
"They didn't like the facts," Gonzalez said. So they politely declined."
As the weeks stretched on without any takers, Circuit Judge Robert Foster grew a little irritated. He said in court that he would personally speak to every eligible lawyer.
Last week, veteran attorney Daniel Hernandez signed on to handle the penalty phase for the case.
Here's what Gonzalez had to say about his own willingness to represent 19-year-old Tate:
"Do I like the facts? No. But I think the state has an obligation to find somebody guilty. Everyone is entitled to good representation."
