BOSTON (AP) A federal judge on Friday rejected a request from lawyers for Boston Marathon bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev to order prosecutors to give the defense more time to prepare their arguments against the death penalty.
Prosecutors have said they plan to make a recommendation to U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder by Oct. 31 on whether to seek the death penalty against Tsarnaev.
Twin explosions at the April 15 marathon killed three people and injured more than 260. Tsarnaev has pleaded not guilty to a 30-count federal indictment, including 17 charges that carry the possibility of the death penalty.
Tsarnaev's lawyers objected to that timetable and asked a judge to order prosecutors to extend an Oct. 24 deadline for the defense to submit its case against the death penalty for inclusion in prosecutors' recommendation to Holder.
Judge George O'Toole Jr. ruled Friday that the Justice Department has an internal protocol and that he will not get involved.