Joe Hunt’s Attorney Reinstated

Santa Monica Superior Court Judge Laurence J. Rittenband agreed today to reinstate a defense lawyer for convicted killer and Billionaire Boys Club leader Joe Hunt, just two days after kicking the attorney off the case.

Arthur H. Barens, chief attorney for Hunt, had said he could not proceed with the trial’s penalty phase if co-counsel Richard C. Chier was not also permitted to represent Hunt, who faces a possible death sentence. “I made an impassioned plea to the court to reinstate Mr. Chier, and the court agreed to reinstate him,” Barens said after this morning’s meeting in the Judge’s chambers. Chier frequently clashed with Rittenband during the trial.