Standard-Examiner: Stewart Wants to Fire His Public Defenders

Looks like a wise move on Stewart's part

Fascinating development in the Matthew Stewart shootout case.  Both the Standard-Examiner and Salt Lake Tribune are reporting that defendant Stewart wants to discharge his court-appointed public defenders, and replace them with local legal hotshots Bernie L. Allen and Jonathan Grimes:

• Stewart wants to fire his public defenders
• Accused Ogden cop killer wants new attorneys

The Standard reports that "Second District Judge Noel S. Hyde on Tuesday ordered a May 31 hearing to consider Stewart's request." Inasmuch as a defendant's right to select his own preferred counsel is legally regarded as fundamental to exercise of his Constitutional Sixth Amendment rights, we'll go out on a limb and predict that Stewart's request will be a quick slam dunk, more or less.

Looks like a wise move on Stewart's part.  Our only question? What the hell took him so long to decide that Bushell and Albright weren't cutting the mustard?