Judge Appoints Cordell a New Attorney

At a Friday hearing in Atlanta, Greg Cordell, who is accused in federal court of , got a new attorney but kept an old one.

District Court Judge Charles A. Pannell in part granted a request by federal defenders who represented Cordell — Thomas Hawker has been removed from the case due to irreconcilable differences with Cordell, but Jake Waldrop will remain as co-counsel.

Both attorneys had in defending Cordell, citing the irreconcilable differences. Pannell appointed Cordell a new lead attorney to fill Hawker's former role — William Allman Morrison of the Atlanta firm Jones, Morrison & Womack.

Cordell's latest motion to dismiss the federal charges he faces will be amended and re-filed later this month. He or his attorney verbally requested such during the hearing.

The former hairdresser and real estate company owner who also faces state charges in connection with the fire that burned his Old Mill Road home was found mentally competent to stand trial on the federal charges. His case at the end of June was officially ordered on the trial calendar.

Follow coverage of the case, including the history, , and .