A teen charged in a College Hill Courts shooting that left one woman dead, a toddler paralyzed, and two others wounded on Monday was given one of the attorneys on his preferred list.
Criminal Court Judge Barry Steelman appointed Lee Ortwein to represent Cortez Sims, who is now 19.
He relieved attorney Brandi Spurgin from the case. The judge said he did not find that attorney Spurgin was ineffective, but he said it was an unworkable situation after Sims brought charges against her with the state Board of Professional Responsibility.
The case had been set for Sept. 27, but that trial date will be pushed back.
Prosecutor Lance Pope has sought to expedite the case, noting that one of the victims, Bianca Horton, who had been expected to be a star witness against Cortez Sims, was recently gunned down.
Sims had listed several attorneys he felt would handle his case well.
Attorney Spurgin said the family had not completed paying her to represent Sims.
The judge found that Sims was indigent, and the state will pay for his representation.