Lawyers Must Keep Representing Murder Defendant Who Won’t Communicate With Them, Judge Rules

It’s been at least a year since Jose Garcia-Morales communicated with his public defenders, if he ever did. But Shelley Ajax and Moe Spencer must continue to represent the 28-year-old murder defendant, a Washington state court judge has ruled, denying their motion to withdraw on the basis that the attorney-client relationship has been “eviscerated,” according to KNDO/KNDU and the Tri-City Herald. Franklin County Judge Carrie Runge said there was no evidence that Garcia-Morales, who doesn’t react to his lawyers even by nodding or gesturing, according to Ajax, has had a falling-out with his counsel, the newspaper reports. And if the motion was granted, it would…