Judge Mark Wolf rejected a claim by Bulger’s lawyer that prosecutors were “judge shopping.”
This is an updated version of a story posted at 8:50 this morning.
James "Whitey" Bulger is seen in booking photos from a 1953 arrest in Boston, left, and last week's arrest in Los Angeles.BOSTON – A federal judge in Boston has granted a bid by prosecutors to dismiss a 1994 racketeering indictment against former mob boss James “Whitey” Bulger so they can focus on a later indictment charging him with participating in 19 murders.
Judge Mark L. Wolf, the same judge who presided over the corruption trial of former House Speaker Salvatore DiMasi, ruled Thursday that prosecutors are within their rights to dismiss the case.
He rejected a claim by Bulger’s lawyer that prosecutors were “judge shopping.”
Bulger has another hearing ahead of him. He is also asking for a taxpayer-funded attorney.
He was arrested in Santa Monica, Calif., last week after 16 years as a fugitive.
More details coming on MassLive and in The Republican.