Defense attorneys allege in a federal suit filed today that an Arizona law blocking them from speaking with crime victims and their relatives violates the First Amendment.

Lawyers for former U.S. Rep. Rick Renzi have asked a judge to reverse the former congressman's convictions a month ago on public corruption, money laundering and other charges.

The spending proposal that passed the Senate on May 16 allows the Arizona Attorney General’s Office to tap into a state fund for indigent defendants to pay for prosecuting certain death-penalty proceedings.