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| Blago Defense Team Will Have Only Three Attorneys in Court |
The defense team for ex-Gov. Rod Blagojevich will consist of only three courtroom attorneys, according to a federal judge.
Blagojevich's attorney, Sheldon Sorosky, asked the court Monday for four courtroom attorneys and three additional attorneys to sift through the millions of pages of evidence and hundreds of hours of FBI recordings.
"It appears at just analyzing this mountain of evidence, to adequately prepare for trial, we may need a number of lawyers," Sorosky told Judge James B. Zagel.
But the judge denied the request, saying he had thought about the appropriate number of lawyers for the case. "I calculate three," Zagel said. "The truth is in cases like this it is rare for lawyers to go over each and every page." Zagel said he would allow some money from Blagojevich's campaign fund to pay for additional contract layers for trial preparations, but would not specify how many would be allowed.
Sorosky also asked for the use of the Blagojevich's vacant campaign office to store documents, but Zagel urged him to find a place closer to the federal courthouse. Zagel said payment for storage space may be allowed.
Sorosky said it would take one lawyer 51 years to digest all 3 million pages of evidence and 400 hours of recordings in the government's case against Blagojevich.
Sorosky must submit a list of lawyers on the defense team to the court early next month. Speaking after court, Sam Adam Jr., one of the attorneys who had advised Blagojevich after his December arrest, hinted to reporters that he, along with his father, Sam Adam Sr., and Sorosky could make up Blagojevich's in court defense team.
(Illinois Radio Network) |
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| 05 11 09 by Newsroom |
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