Army 1st Lt. Ehren K. Watada, facing a new military trial in July for refusing to deploy to Iraq, is heading into those upcoming proceedings with new legal counsel.

Honolulu attorney Eric Seitz, a longtime military defense lawyer who handled Watada's case largely for free through a mistrial in early February — garnering almost as much international media attention as his client in the process — confirmed he no longer represents the war-resisting soldier.

"I think the way to put it is I'm not representing him anymore and he's found another firm," Seitz said.

The Seattle law offices of Carney Badley Spellman have picked up the case, Seitz said. The firm's Web site said it focuses on legal services in business, construction, employment law, government affairs, insurance and litigation.

Seitz said he has no hard feelings. "My staff is very relieved because we were spending so much time and money on the case," he said.

Watada, 28, a 1996 Kalani High School graduate who criticized the Bush administration and refused to deploy with his Fort Lewis, Wash., unit to a war he said is illegal and immoral, could not be reached for comment yesterday.

His father, Bob Watada, said, "Ehren has not told me exactly what happened" to cause him to find new legal counsel. His son told him "he just wanted a different firm."

"I have the highest opinion of Eric Seitz," said Bob Watada, former executive director of the state Campaign Spending Commission. "But it's Ehren's decision."

The Army in late February refiled charges, including one count of missing movement and two counts of conduct unbecoming an officer. The latter charge accuses him in four instances of making public statements criticizing the war or President Bush.

Seitz, who received only travel expenses in Watada's defense, said he is "strenuously opposed to the war" and "greatly respected" the Honolulu man's stand.

Reach William Cole at wcole@honoluluadvertiser.com.