Defrocked judge denied a public defender for his appeal
TACOMA, Wash. - A former Pierce County Superior judge convicted of patronizing a male prostitute and felony harassment was denied in his latest attempt to secure a public defender for his appeal.
Michael Hecht, who once earned $148,000 a year as a judge, claimed that since he is now eligible for food stamps, he is too poor to afford an attorney to help in his appeal.
Hecht said he even recently qualified for an increase in his food stamp allotment to $242 a month.
But Judge James Cayce ruled Thursday that Hecht had enough assets he could liquidate, including his house and car, to be able to afford adequate representation.
Cayce also suggested that Hecht has plenty of legal experience as a former judge to be able to represent himself.
"Unlike most folks, he was a lawyer for years, he was even a Superior Court judge - he has the ability to go pro se and not liquidate his assets," Judge Cayce said.
But Hecht says that's a type of law that he's not capable of handling.
"There's a skill set involved in doing appeals. I don't have that skill set," Hecht said.
Plus, he says, filing fees are costly and he doesn't have the money to pay for them.
But Judge Cayce is standing firm.
"I just don't think he's indigent, and I'm going to deny it," Cayce said.
It's not the first time Hecht has been shot down in his quest to be declared indigent. A judge also denied his request on March 12.
Hecht was sentenced in November 2009 to 240 hours of community service and "John School." Though he didn't serve any prison time, he's been kicked off the bench and barred from practicing law.
Hecht said if his case is overturned, he intends to challenge any effort to keep him from running for office again.
Michael Hecht, who once earned $148,000 a year as a judge, claimed that since he is now eligible for food stamps, he is too poor to afford an attorney to help in his appeal.
Hecht said he even recently qualified for an increase in his food stamp allotment to $242 a month.
But Judge James Cayce ruled Thursday that Hecht had enough assets he could liquidate, including his house and car, to be able to afford adequate representation.
Cayce also suggested that Hecht has plenty of legal experience as a former judge to be able to represent himself.
"Unlike most folks, he was a lawyer for years, he was even a Superior Court judge - he has the ability to go pro se and not liquidate his assets," Judge Cayce said.
But Hecht says that's a type of law that he's not capable of handling.
"There's a skill set involved in doing appeals. I don't have that skill set," Hecht said.
Plus, he says, filing fees are costly and he doesn't have the money to pay for them.
But Judge Cayce is standing firm.
"I just don't think he's indigent, and I'm going to deny it," Cayce said.
It's not the first time Hecht has been shot down in his quest to be declared indigent. A judge also denied his request on March 12.
Hecht was sentenced in November 2009 to 240 hours of community service and "John School." Though he didn't serve any prison time, he's been kicked off the bench and barred from practicing law.
Hecht said if his case is overturned, he intends to challenge any effort to keep him from running for office again.
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