Nichols Defense Team Reconfigured ATLANTA, GA (WABE) - Brian Nichols' defense team has been reconfigured. In a written order, Judge James Bodiford says the changes can substantially reduce the cost of the trial.

The case has already cost more than one million dollars, and has stalled for months because defense funding ran out. Georgia's Public Defender Standards Council wanted to remove out-of-state lawyer Jacob Sussman from the case, to save money.

In the end, they compromised with Nichols' defense team. Sussman will remain on a limited contractual basis, and Josh Moore, a lawyer from the Georgia's Capital Defender Office, will join the team.

Judge James Bodiford said the agreement was better than anything he could have come up with:

BODIFORD: Both sides said they could live with it, both sides will live with it, neither side likes it, which probably means to me it is a very good resolution

Another of Nichols' lawyers, Robert McGlasson, will be put on contract as a salaried attorney with the Office of the Capital Defender.

Nichols is charged with killing three Fulton County Courthouse Officials and a federal agent in March of 2005.
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