Waller trial is delayed again
Defense cites need for co-counsel
The trial for Tristen Waller, who was arrested in June 2019 and charged alongside co-defendant Chancin Hooks with capital murder and attempted capital murder in the death of 27-yearold Brandon Parker, has been delayed from its set August 2 start date after a motion for continuance submitted by defense attorney S.L. Smith on July 29 was accepted.
In a copy of the motion available in court records, Smith says in part that he is “attempting to hire a co-counsel to help with the defense” and that “the new co-counsel will need to get up to speed on the case and prepare an adequate defense.”
The motion was granted, according to court records, on July 30 by Judge Robin Carroll. No new trial date is set in the response document.
Smith initially asked for continuance during a hearing for the pro hac vice admission of New Orleans-based attorney John Fuller on July 20. The pro hac vice admission of Fuller was denied and Smith was asked to submit the continuance motion in writing.
Pro hac vice is a Latin term used in legal settings meaning “for this occasion;” it refers to instances where a
lawyer who is not licensed to practice in a particular jurisdiction is given permission to practice in that jurisdiction for a particular case.
Fuller did not appear in court to argue for his pro hac vice admission as co-counsel; Smith appeared on his behalf.
Thirteenth Judicial District deputy prosecutor Carla Gibson argued in a motion on June 8 and during the hearing against Fuller’s admission, citing numerous allegations that Fuller operated in Arkansas and worked on Waller’s case without authorization.
Hooks, who left jail custody in June 2020 on a $25,000 bond with conditions including GPS monitoring, is next set to appear in court on August 17.
Waller remains incarcerated in the Union County Jail with a $1 million bond.