Loughner Pleads Not Guilty
The New York Times reports:
Jared L. Loughner, who was tackled to the ground by bystanders after opening fire outside a Tucson supermarket on Jan. 8, pleaded not guilty on Monday to charges that he attempted to murder Representative Gabrielle Giffords and two of her aides.
Appearing in U.S. District Court alongside his defense attorney, Judy Clarke, Mr. Loughner entered the plea in written form to U.S. District Judge Larry A. Burns of San Diego without uttering a word.
Dressed in an orange prison jumpsuit and wearing glasses, Mr. Loughner, 22, smiled through most of the proceedings and chuckled when a clerk read out the name of the case: the United States of America versus Jared Lee Loughner.
Ms. Clarke offered no objection to a request by the prosecutor, Assistant U.S. Attorney Wallace Kleindienst, to move the court proceedings to Tucson, where the shooting, which left six people dead and 13 injured, took place. But Mr. Kleindienst, who is considered an expert in murder cases, indicated that additional charges will likely be filed and Ms. Clarke will have additional opportunities to push for the trial to be heard elsewhere.
During the arraignment, which was conducted under high security, Judge Burns asked Ms. Clarke whether she had any concerns about her client’s ability to understand the case against him. “We are not raising any issues at this time,” she responded.
The prosecution turned over to Ms. Clarke on Monday 25 tapes that came from Mr. Loughner’s computer as well as transcripts of 250 witness interviews.
The shooting is expected to come up during President Obama’s State of the Union speech on Tuesday, as several of those who aided the wounded have received invitations to attend. ...
