In Re Hillis

Edmund M. Hillis, Assistant Public Defender, petitions this Court for a writ of prohibition or certiorari challenging the authority of a Superior Court judge to sanction him through the imposition of costs of transporting prisoners to court and confining him for one hour to a courthouse “holding area.” Hillis contends that: (i) a trial judge does not have the authority, absent a finding of contempt, to impose on defendant’s counsel the costs of transporting an incarcerated defendant to court; (ii) a trial judge does not have the authority, absent a finding of contempt, to incarcerate counsel;…