Hinckley's lawyers denied withdrawal

WASHINGTON, D.C. (WAVY) - John Hinckley, Jr.'s lawyers have been denied a motion to withdraw from the case due to outstanding legal bills.

Hinckley, 56, who attempted to assassinate President Ronald Reagan in 1981, was found not guilty by reason of insanity in 1982 and has since been confined at Washington, D.C.'s St. Elizabeths Hospital.

Hinckley's family notified the lawyers they could not keep paying them for their services, the price of which have already been reduced.

The court opinion released Sept. 19 states the six lawyers are ordered to keep representing Hinckley due to their familiarity with the case. The opinion states Hinckley would be unfairly prejudiced if his lawyers were to withdraw.

Special coverage: John Hinckley, Jr.

Since 2006, Hinckley has been able to visit his mother in Williamsburg for 10-day stretches, 12 times a year. He was in court November appealing for longer conditional release. 

St. Elizabeths was tasked with finding a therapeutic behavioral program that could have led to an increased release for Hinckley. However, court documents filed in August state a Williamsburg facility had withdrawn their application to assist Hinckley.

That withdrawal, in essence, halted any chance of Hinckley receiving additional release days.

At this time, Hinckley's hospital has not submitted an alternate therapeutic plan but court documents state the hospital has until Oct. 19, 2012 to notify the court how it plans to proceed with Hinckley's treatment options.