Judge tells 'Shark' to stop online attacks
Mob trial lawyer called witness a doofus on blog
Has "The Shark" had his teeth pulled?
The federal judge presiding over the Family Secrets mob case in Chicago has privately told Joseph "The Shark" Lopez -- the defense lawyer for reputed Outfit hit man Frank Calabrese Sr. -- to stop allowing his critiques of the trial to be posted on an Internet blog.
Lopez, among the more colorful defense attorneys at the trial, called a witness in one blog posting "boring," a doofus and -- using Italian slang -- an ass.
(Brian Kersey/Sun-Times)
Friday, Lopez, among the more media-friendly lawyers in the case, took the uncharacteristic step of having no comment.
"I can't talk about it because it's under seal," Lopez said.
In general, attorneys are prohibited during trial from making statements outside of court that could have a prejudicial effect on the case.
Last Tuesday, Lopez went to great lengths -- before telling the news media about his client's reaction to the day's testimony -- to say he would not comment on specific witnesses.
Not that Lopez's short-lived blog had only negative things to say.
Lopez noted the judge was "doing an excellent job of moving [the] trial along at a good pace."
He gave kudos to one of the prosecutors on the government team, noting tangentially, "he is quite a sailor." He criticized another as "monotone and dry with no emotion."
And Lopez was kind to a fellow defense attorney, Rick Halprin, who represents reputed top mobster Joseph "Joey the Clown" Lombardo.
In one cross-examination, "Halprin was great as usual," Lopez wrote.
When asked about the compliment on the blog, Halprin said, "While I agreed with the sentiment, it's still inappropriate."
"The only opinion that counts is the jury's," Halprin said.