Ex Parte Barksdale

The petitioner, Tony Barksdale, filed this petition for a writ of mandamus directing the Honorable Lewis H. Hamner, circuit judge for the Fifth Judicial Circuit, to approve the request by Barksdale's attorney, Thomas M. Goggans, for preapproval of a fixed hourly rate to be paid to Goggans for office expenses anticipated to be incurred in the defense of Barksdale's case. The petitioner, who is indigent, was charged with capital murder, and Mr. Goggans was appointed to represent him. Mr. Goggans filed a motion for approval of payment of his anticipated office overhead expenses, in addition to…