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Judge awards attorney fees in Arkansas gay marriage case

Judge awards attorney fees in Arkansas gay marriage case
Kristin Seaton, center, of Jacksonville, Ark., holds up her marriage license as she leaves the Carroll County Courthouse in Eureka Springs, Ark., with her partner, Jennifer Rambo, left, of Fort Smith, Ark. Saturday, May 10, 2014, in Eureka Springs, Ark. Rambo and Seaton were the first same-sex couple to be granted a marriage license in Eureka Springs after a judge overturned Amendment 83, which banned same-sex marriage in the state of Arkansas.
Kristin Seaton, center, of Jacksonville, Ark., holds up her marriage license as she leaves the Carroll County Courthouse in Eureka Springs, Ark., with her partner, Jennifer Rambo, left, of Fort Smith, Ark. Saturday, May 10, 2014, in Eureka Springs, Ark. Rambo and Seaton were the first same-sex couple to be granted a marriage license in Eureka Springs after a judge overturned Amendment 83, which banned same-sex marriage in the state of Arkansas. Sarah Bentham, AP

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — A judge has approved attorney fees that are significantly lower than requested in a lawsuit that overturned Arkansas’ gay marriage ban.

U.S. District Judge Kristine Baker on Friday awarded attorney Cheryl Maples $1,590 and attorney Jack Wagoner and attorneys in his law firm a total of $18,360.

Maples requested $15,900 plus $511.47 in costs. Wagoner asked for $49,754.

Baker noted that Maples and Wagoner were earlier awarded a total of $66,000 for work on a parallel lawsuit in state court and said the case appears “overlawyered” with attorneys spending more time than was needed.

Maples receives $100 per hour for 15.9 hours work rather than $250 per hour for 63.6 hours she requested. Wagoner’s firm receives $100 per hour for 183.6 hours, down from $150 to $275 per hour for 306 hours requested.

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