Christopher Adams (L'92) took a pay cut to pursue a job representing death penalty defendants as the death penalty resource counsel for the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL). Prior to that, he was a staff attorney with the Southern Center for Human Rights.

....Adams did not set out to pursue public interest law when he enrolled at Georgetown University Law Center in the fall of 1989. However, a course in criminal law with Professor Greenhalgh, and International Human Rights with Father Robert Drinan inspired him to pursue indigent defense work. Upon his graduation in the spring of 1992, he worked as a staff attorney with the Public Defenders Office in Charleston, South Carolina. There, he worked in a felony court, handling many cases, including over 35 trials of various felonies from cocaine possession through murder. Adams says, "being there for the accused when no one else is, is tremendously rewarding."

Capital defenders are not motivated by money. Federally and in Georgia, capital defenders for indigent clients are paid $125.00 per hour.

This should be an open and shut case, guilt-wise. The challenge is for Chris and his team to save Nichols' life by getting at least one juror to vote against the death penalty. So why can't the prosecution play by the Constitution?

Nichols — expressionless, handcuffed and wearing a T-shirt and tan pants — was shuttled via caravans of unmarked government vehicles to various booking centers. Everywhere he was guarded by dozens of agents and police, many carrying automatic rifles. Pennington said Nichols has been read his rights and offered an attorney.

"He is cooperating," Pennington said.

Chris Adams, head of the Office of the Georgia Capital Defender, tried unsuccessfully to visit Nichols at Atlanta police headquarters and advise him of his rights.

"We were denied access to see our client," said Adams, whose office represents indigent defendants facing state death penalty charges. "We have a statutory mandate to represent people facing the death penalty in Georgia. Mr. Nichols is facing the death penalty in Georgia."

Fulton County District Attorney Paul Howard said Adams was not entitled to see Nichols.

"At this point, he has not requested a lawyer," he said. "Until that request is made, we'll continue as is our normal procedure."