Security clears courtroom in Nichols case

ATLANTA - Fulton County deputies have emptied the courtroom used to hold the trial of courthouse gunman Brian Nichols.

The officers emptied the courtroom Tuesday morning and used security dogs to sweep the courtroom and most of the sixth floor of the Atlanta Municipal Courthouse. Court spokesman Don Plummer said there was a ``security issue'' but did not elaborate.

Nichols was found guilty of murdering a judge, a court reporter, a sheriff's deputy and a federal agent when he escaped from a rape trial on March 11, 2005. The jury is now hearing testimony about whether Nichols should be sentenced to death.