Judge Denies Motion To Toss Contempt Findings For Attorney

An Arkansas judge has denied a request to throw out contempt findings for a lawyer representing a former Little Rock police officer charged with manslaughter.

Circuit Judge Wendell Griffen on Tuesday denied attorney Bill James' request to vacate the contempt findings that Griffen imposed.

Griffen fined James $25,000 for contempt of court at the end of the trial of former officer Josh Hastings that ended in mistrial.

Hastings is charged in the shooting death of a 15-year-old burglary suspect.

Jurors couldn't reach a verdict and a retrial is set for September. James argues that he wasn't given a hearing before being cited on Sunday.

However, Griffen says the fines don't violate James' right to due process of law.

James' attorney, Jeff Rosenzweig, says he plans to appeal Griffen's decision.