A federal judge has agreed to shorten the daily schedule for retired state Sen. Joe Bruno's second fraud trial unless the ex-Senate leader uses the extra time for press conferences on the courthouse steps.
U.S. District Judge Gary Sharpe is conditionally accepting a request to convene from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. for medical reasons. The 84-year-old Bruno had cancer surgery last year.
Sharpe, who presided at Bruno's first trial, cautions defense lawyers that if Bruno holds 9 a.m. press conferences, they'll go back to the usual 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. schedule.
During his first trial, Bruno talked to reporters during court recesses, saying he was innocent.
A jury acquitted him of five charges and convicted him of two that were overturned on appeal.
The new trial starts Monday.
Copyright 2014 The Associated Press.
