Harris is charged with murder, second-degree arson and tampering with physical evidence. He pleaded not guilty to each of the counts.
If convicted, Harris could face the death penalty.
He will be represented in the case by two members of the Kentucky Capital Trials Branch, attorneys Marcus Jones and Jason Gilbert.
According to Jones, the agency specializes in defending those facing the death penalty. It is part of the Kentucky Public Defenders Office.
Harris will be back in court on Aug. 29 for a pre-trial conference. Barring a changing of his plea, he would then be tried before a jury later this year.
Paul Browning III, son of the late sheriff, said he and his mother were optimistic about the eventual outcome of the case. They were both present for the arraignment.
After three years, Browning said, "I guess we're hopeful from this point on. We've picked up some positive momentum in this case."
Paul Browning Jr. served as sheriff in Harlan County in the early 1980s until he was convicted of plotting to kill two local officials. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison in 1982.
In 1985 he was paroled and moved to Cincinnati.
The former sheriff filed papers in Jan. 2002 seeking re-election to his old post. According to the Harlan Daily Enterprise, Browning contended that his attempt to shut down bootlegging operations and corruption in Harlan County had led to his legal troubles two decades ago.
Browning waged a hotly contested primary campaign against incumbent Harlan County Sheriff Steve Duff until he was found dead in Bell County along KY 2012 at Balkan Road.
It was later determined that Browning had been shot in the head and his body and truck had been burned beyond recognition.
Less than a month after Browning's murder, a video tape began circulating that featured Browning and a man later identified as Dwayne Harris, a nephew of Raymond Harris.
According to a timeline published in the Harlan Daily Enterprise's July 8 edition, Commonwealth Attorney Henry Johnson says the tape documents Browning talking with Dwayne Harris about future arrangements for splitting the proceeds of drug trafficking once he's elected.
Paul Browning III refuted the accusations of corruption by saying his father was conducting a private drug investigation.
Also featured on the video were Harris' wife, Edna and a Harlan man named Johnny Epperson who allegedly sold cocaine on Harris' property on his behalf.
All three were arrested on federal drug charges in 2003.
While in prison, officers served an additional warrant on Epperson in June 2004, charging him with complicity to commit murder and tampering with physical evidence in the Browning case.
According to the Lexington Herald-Leader, in December 2003, Edna Harris told investigators she allegedly had audio tapes she implicating those responsible for Brownings's death and revealing public corruption in Harlan County. She wanted to use the tapes to barter a lighter sentence for her and her husband.
According to the Enterprise timeline, in Feb. 2004, Edna Harris died in prison from complications of hepatitis.
Kentucky State Police Detective Michael Cornett said the investigation into Browning's murder was continuing and he expected more arrests. It wasn't clear when that would happen because Cornett said he was taking time to build a solid case.
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