Cedar Rapids murder defendant asks for another new lawyer, gets scolding from judge

Jason Blackcloud, 34, accused of beating to death Jerry Hurt in August 2008, asked today for his sixth attorney to be removed and for a new one to be appointed.

Sixth Judicial District Judge Robert Sosalla flatly denied his request, and had some tough words for Blackcloud.

“I'm going to deny the motion," Sosalla said. "You are going to have to work things out and learn to get along with your attorney. This trial is set for July and it will go in July.”

Sosalla said he had accommodated Blackcloud's several requests for continuances and new lawyers because of the seriousness of the charges, but told him today that “you can't keep changing lawyers.”

“I'm going to object to that,” Blackcloud said.

“I'm sure you will, but I'm denying (the request),” Sosalla said.

Blackcloud said he and his attorney, Wallace Taylor, had a “breakdown in communication” and Taylor wasn't prepared for trial. Taylor hadn't reviewed the forensic material in the case and wouldn't discuss it with him,  Blackcloud claimed.

“So, you want to bring in a new lawyer in for a July trial where they haven't seen anything?” Sosalla said. “I'm not replacing Mr. Taylor.”

Blackcloud also has another private attorney, Victoria Cole, who is co-counsel in the case with Taylor.

Blackcloud, who filed an indigent claim, can't be represented by attorneys of the Linn County and Johnson County public defender's offices because they have either represented him in previous cases or represent other defendants that might be witnesses in Blackcloud's trial. He has also gone through a few other private attorneys willing to take cases like these for conflicts such as lack of confidence.

Blackcloud is accused of hitting Hurt, 46, in the head with a piece of pipe as Hurt was walking along 14th Street SE.

The trial is set for July 26.

RELATED:

• Aug. 7, 2009 -- Cedar Rapids murder trial continued
• Aug. 12, 2009 -- Trial date set in Cedar Rapids pipe murder
• Nov. 22, 2009 -- Cedar Rapids murder trial reset
• Dec. 3, 2009 -- Pipe beating murder trial reset
• March 16, 2010 -- Cedar Rapids murder trial rescheduled again