By Zoe Tillman From Legal Times

Douglas Hughes, the gyrocopter pilot who landed his aircraft on the U.S. Capitol lawn in April to advocate for campaign finance reform, wants to add veteran First Amendment lawyer Mark Goldstone to his criminal defense team, according to court papers filed on Thursday.

Hughes, facing felony charges, already has a court-appointed lawyer from the federal public defender’s office, Tony Miles. With the case headed to trial in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, Hughes believes he needs two lawyers to mount an effective defense. He’s seeking the court’s permission to hire Goldstone while still keeping Miles as his court-appointed counsel.

Hughes wants Goldstone because of his history representing protesters. Goldstone’s past clients included protesters arrested for demonstrations at the U.S. Supreme Court, Congress and the White House. He represented protesters associated with the Occupy D.C. movement and has been involved with the National Lawyers Guild, a coalition of attorneys who represent protesters.

“Mr. Goldstone has vast experience in representing defendants who are charged with criminal offenses as a consequence of acts of protest and civil disobedience,” Miles wrote in Thursday’s court papers. “Because of this experience, Mr. Hughes believes that adding Mr. Goldstone as a second attorney is vital to his defense.”

Miles and prosecutors are engaged in plea negotiations, but those talks have been unsuccessful, according to Thursday’s filing. “Based on the present status of the plea discussions, however, it appears likely that Mr. Hughes’s case will proceed to trial,” Miles told the court.

Hughes still can’t afford to hire his own attorneys but he expects to receive “limited” financial assistance from supporters to pay for Goldstone’s services, according to Thursday’s court papers. Goldstone, who has a solo practice in Washington, agreed to accept “a substantially reduced fee” to work on the case.

Goldstone was not immediately available to comment. Miles declined to comment. Hughes will only hire Goldstone if Miles can stay on as lead counsel, according to his court papers.

Hughes was charged with violating national defense airspace regulations and aircraft registration violations for landing his gyrocopter in April on the west lawn of the Capitol building. Hughes told the Tampa Bay Times he planned the flight from Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, to Washington as an act of civil disobedience to advocate for campaign finance reforms. He faces a maximum sentence of 9 1/2 years in jail.

Hughes is due back in court before U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly on July 22. The judge allowed him to return to his home in Florida while his criminal case is pending.

IMAGE: Douglas Hughes, right, the gyrocopter pilot who landed on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol, talks with members of the media outside of Federal Court after a status hearing Monday June 22, 2015, in Washington.

Photo: Jacquelyn Martin/AP

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