Giel Stein, Former George Ryan Lawyer, Joins Blagojevich Defense

CHICAGO (AP) -- Another lawyer is joining the defense team for ousted Gov. Rod Blagojevich.

U.S. District Judge James Zagel on Friday allowed a fourth lawyer to serve as quarterback for the defense team, helping to oversee the review of volumes of documents and case organization.

Zagel initially approved 40 hours of legal work by attorney Giel (GEEL) Stein. Zagel has a say over attorneys as part of an agreement with prosecutors to let Blagojevich use his campaign fund to pay for his defense.

Stein formerly worked at the Winston & Strawn law firm, where he said he was one of the many lawyers who helped with former Gov. George Ryan's defense. Ryan is in prison for corruption.

Blagojevich's defense is being handled by Chicago attorney Sheldon Sorosky and the father-son criminal defense team of Sam Adam and Samuel E. Adam.

-ASSOCIATED PRESS

Comments

[PubWreck]

Best of luck to the newly incorporated Stein Law Group--12/12/08. Maybe the additional work will help you increase your office space.

[Cogs]

Rod should remember O. Henry's "The Gift of the Magi" and sell his hair.

[mjb5406]

... and see how well this guy did for Ryan!

[SteveD]

Won't matter how many lawyers he gets to work on this as a freebie, or poverty rate assignment, but it will be a fun time for all these lawyers. The pressure will be high on the Fitzgerald folks to make an airtight case, and they will. The only open Q is how many of the charged counts will become convictions; certainly over 50% I guess now, probably closer to 90%.