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Bulger could find out Tuesday if he gets a court-appointed lawyer
By adamg on Sun, 06/26/2011 - 8:54pm
A judge today ordered prosecutors to meet with Whitey Bulger's temporary attorney on Monday to see if the alleged murdering racketeer has any money that could be used to pay for a lawyer without fear it would be seized by the government.
In his order, US District Court Judge Mark Wolf said this could include money the US Attorney's office claims Bulger's brother, William, might be able to put up. Wolf scheduled a hearing at 10 a.m. on Tuesday on the matter.
The FBI seized $800,000 from Bulger's Santa Monica apartment last week and could move to seize additional money it says is the result of illegal activities.
Wolf said he has to balance Bulger's Fifth Amendment right against self incrimination with his Sixth Amendment right to effective counsel and that, as was done in 1997 with Bulger's then co-defendants, he would have to side with his right to an attorney, even if that means the government has to pay for him or her. He noted that Bulger could always be made to repay some or all of the costs if it turns out he does have enough money.
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| Attachment | Size |
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 Order on Bulger's request for court-appointed attorney | 0 bytes |
| Second indictment against Bulger and pals, details 19 murders | 0 bytes |
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Comments
Boneheaded move by the prosecution
to try to deny him a court-appointed attorney.
Precedent is against it, the judge is against it, the Constitution is against it; it's just a ploy to get the DA some more media attention and generate a little public outrage.
No matter if you hate 'em cause he shot your relative or you think he's a persecuted Robbin' Hood from Southie, Whitey deserves due process unless you ship him off to Gitmo...