CLINTON - Attorneys handling post-trial motions for convicted murderer Maurice LaGrone Jr. and the upcoming trial of his former girlfriend will be exempt from rules limiting their pay to $5,000.

LaGrone was convicted last month in the triple drowning deaths of Amanda Hamm's three children in Clinton Lake in September 2003. Hamm is expected to be tried on the same charges this fall. Hamm and LaGrone, both 30, both maintain their innocence.

DeWitt County Judge Stephen Peters entered an order Monday that will allow defense attorneys for Hamm and LaGrone to exceed a $5,000 limitation placed on defense attorneys by an Illinois Supreme Court rule. The new rule becomes effective July 1 and applies to lawyers representing indigent defendants charged with one or more felonies.

In extending the fees for LaGrone attorneys Jeff Justice and Tom Griffith, Peters noted "that counsel will be required to expend considerable time on preparation of post-trial motions."

After those motions are heard, an appeal is expected to be filed on LaGrone's behalf with the state's 4th District Appellate Court. The appeal work will be handled by the State Appellate Defender's office. The state will pay the cost of the appeal.

Hamm's attorneys were given an exemption for their legal fees based upon the complexity of the murder case. The judge also said defense lawyers Steve Skelton and Peter Wise will not be able to devote time to their law practices while defending Hamm.

All four defense attorneys will be paid $125 per hour and bills will be reviewed by Judge John Shonkwiler, chief judge of the Sixth Judicial Circuit, before their consideration by the DeWitt County Board for payment.

County taxpayers will be responsible for the post-trial motions in LaGrone's case and trial costs for Hamm because the death penalty is no longer an issue. LaGrone's jury found him ineligible for the death penalty and he was sentenced to life in prison without parole.

Last week, the prosecution withdrew plans to seek the death penalty against Hamm if she is convicted. That decision shifted the financial burden for Hamm's trial from the state Capital Litigation Trust Fund to DeWitt County taxpayers.

The DeWitt County Board's finance committee will meet next Monday to discuss how it will deal with the legal bills.

The cost of the Hamm and LaGrone cases has exceeded $1.3 million from the state trust fund. A recent bill from McLean County for costs of the LaGrone trial topped $14,000. The trial was held in McLean County because of pre-trial news coverage in DeWitt County.