"It can get fairly expensive," said John Reidhead, the director of the Division of Finance. "These expenses are not small and attorneys want to do more and more."

The fund handles costs up through a first direct appeal of conviction. A separate legislative appropriation handles other post-conviction relief and has come under fire recently. Some criminal defense attorneys have refused to take on such cases, saying the costs aren't worth the time and energy put into effectively representing a client. Judges have had to force attorneys to represent some death row inmates.

Reidhead declined to comment specifically on Beaver County's request, but said a judge ultimately decides what counsel will represent a defendant in a capital case. Christiansen plans to ask the state to start providing the money when he meets with the Division of Finance next month. He has already submitted an application for some of the costs.

"I want to be optimistic and hope they will shoulder their burden and do what the laws require," he said.

---

E-mail: bwinslow@desnews.com