From The Daily Sentinel (Grand Junction):  What have taxpayers already spent to defend Michael Blagg?

Under current Colorado law, the answer can’t be extracted from Blagg’s lawyers at the Colorado State Public Defender’s Office.

During last week’s contempt hearing for Blagg juror Marilyn Charlesworth, Mesa County Chief Deputy District Attorney Dan Rubinstein told the judge he’ll issue a subpoena to Grand Junction staff of the Colorado Public Defender’s Office, seeking information on costs incurred by the agency for Blagg’s defense before and during his 2004 murder trial in Mesa County.

Rubinstein told the judge that Steve Colvin, who heads the local public defender’s office, indicated he plans to move to quash such a subpoena, arguing on the grounds that Blagg cost information is “privileged” and “confidential.”

“I can assure you that there is no universe that makes communications to a travel agent, or witness to make flight arrangements with third parties, or the bill for that, a confidential matter,” Rubinstein wrote in an email sent in February to the Colorado District Attorney’s Council.

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