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Taxpayers Will Pick Up Bill for Bulger's Defense

Judge rules he can't pay for attorney himself

By the Associated Press

Posted Jul 1, 2011 12:01 PM CDT

(AP) – Former reputed mob boss James "Whitey" Bulger was given a taxpayer-funded attorney yesterday after a judge concluded that he is unable to pay for his own lawyer. Prosecutors argued that Bulger's family—including his brother William Bulger, the former Massachusetts Senate president—have the means to help pay for Whitey Bulger's defense. But Bulger's provisional attorney said no one in Bulger's family had offered to help him financially. He also said authorities have seized all of Bulger's assets, including $800,000 hidden in his Santa Monica apartment.

The magistrate judge agreed, and appointed JW Carney Jr., a prominent Boston defense attorney, to represent Bulger. Carney has represented a long list of high-profile defendants, including John Salvi III, who was convicted of killing two people and wounding five others in a shooting rampage at two Planned Parenthood clinics in Brookline, Mass., in 1994. (Click to read more about the former mobster's arrest and trial.)
Defense attorney J.W. Carney Jr., appointed to represent James Whitey Bulger, leaves federal court in Boston, Thursday, June 30, 2011.
Defense attorney J.W. Carney Jr., appointed to represent James "Whitey" Bulger, leaves federal court in Boston, Thursday, June 30, 2011.   (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
This undated file booking photo, obtained by WBUR 90.9 - NPR Radio Boston, shows Boston mob boss James Whitey Bulger, who was captured on June 22, 2011, in Santa Monica, Calif.
This undated file booking photo, obtained by WBUR 90.9 - NPR Radio Boston, shows Boston mob boss James "Whitey" Bulger, who was captured on June 22, 2011, in Santa Monica, Calif.   ((AP Photo/WBUR 90.9, File) MANDATORY CREDIT)
Former Massachusetts Senate President William Bulger, center, as he arrives at court before a scheduled appearance by his brother James Whitey Bulger, in Boston, Thursday, June 30, 2011.
Former Massachusetts Senate President William Bulger, center, as he arrives at court before a scheduled appearance by his brother James "Whitey" Bulger, in Boston, Thursday, June 30, 2011.   (Steven Senne)
United States Marshal vehicles transport James Whitey Bulger to the federal courthouse, behind, in Boston, Thursday, June 30, 2011.
United States Marshal vehicles transport James "Whitey" Bulger to the federal courthouse, behind, in Boston, Thursday, June 30, 2011.   (Steven Senne)
This courtroom sketch depicts James Whitey Bulger before U.S. District Judge Mark Wolf during a hearing in a federal courtroom in Boston Tuesday, June 28, 2011.
This courtroom sketch depicts James "Whitey" Bulger before U.S. District Judge Mark Wolf during a hearing in a federal courtroom in Boston Tuesday, June 28, 2011.   (AP Photo/Jane Flavell Collins)
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COMMENTS
Showing 1 of 1 comment
Rammrodd
Jul 1, 2011 5:59 PM CDT
Whitey had $800K in his house, which the FBI stole from him. That should reimburse the taxpayers.

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Boston • Whitey Bulger

 
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