OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A man charged with murder has told a judge that he wants to keep his lawyer, an Omaha attorney criticized for hiring a witness in the man’s homicide case.

61-year-old James Cotton told Douglas County District Judge Gary Randall on Monday that he understood the ramifications of what could be seen as potential ethical violations by his attorney, Travis Penn.

Cotton says he wants to continue with the trial. Jury selection began Monday.

Before the hearing Monday, Cotton was given an article published by the newspaper Sunday that explained how Penn hired 31-year-old Lindsey Redinbaugh as his receptionist.

Prosecutors say Redinbaugh sent messages telling another witness in Cotton’s case to not “snitch” while her boss was questioning the witness in a pretrial deposition.

Redinbaugh has been charged with witness tampering.