Holly Ashcraft Gets New Defense

Holly Ashcraft, the University of Southern California student who has been charged in the death of her infant (see earlier post) has a new lawyer--Mark Geragos.

Geragos has had some other notable clients: Scott Peterson, Susan McDougal, Winona Ryder, and Gary Condit.

There is a preliminary hearing slated for May 23rd, but one could expect that date to be pushed back due to the change in defense.

Jean Rosenbluth, a law professor at USC, says the change in lawyers is often used as "a tactic to delay the legal process and stay out of jail."

Ashcraft might be looking for an attorney who can "get her side of the story out there," and Geragos certainly has "a good relationship" with members of both law enforcement and the media, Rosenbluth said.

She agreed that the prosecutor is "outmanned" with Geragos and his law firm as Ashcraft's defense team, adding that prosecutors are "almost always outmanned" in cases where the defendant can hire private counsel.

Links: Daily Trojan online