Herbert J Stern

Independent counsel Lawrence E. Walsh, signaling that he is close to seeking indictments in the Iran-Contra investigation, Wednesday retained a former federal judge and prosecutor to fight expected challenges by defendants who testified under grants of immunity at congressional hearings. Because of the tough reputation of the newly appointed prosecutor, Herbert J. Stern, the announcement was an indication that Walsh is preparing for an all-out fight.

Independent counsel Lawrence E. Walsh, signaling that he is close to seeking indictments in the Iran-Contra investigation, Wednesday retained a former federal judge and prosecutor to fight expected challenges by defendants who testified under grants of immunity at congressional hearings. Because of the tough reputation of the newly appointed prosecutor, Herbert J. Stern, the announcement was an indication that Walsh is preparing for an all-out fight.

Independent counsel Lawrence E. Walsh signaled today that he is poised to bring criminal charges in the Iran-Contra affair by hiring a former federal judge to fight legal challenges to possible prosecutions. Walsh, himself a former federal judge, announced in a statement that former U.S. District Judge Herbert J.

"Judgment in Berlin" (selected theaters) is a taut, punchy courtroom drama involving complex and important issues. For all its passion and clarity, it plays like a movie for television and already has been sold to ABC. It probably would have gone directly to TV if it didn't have Sean Penn in a key part.

Independent counsel Lawrence E. Walsh charged in a court filing Friday that lawyers for Lt. Col. Oliver L. North and others in the Iran-Contra affair are employing "unprecedented" delaying tactics that could make scheduling a trial for the men "nearly impossible." In responding to legal attacks on the criminal indictments of North, John M. Poindexter and Albert A. Hakim, Walsh offered U.S. District Judge Gerhard A.

The judge in the Iran-Contra case warned today that the congressional immunity granted Oliver L. North and two co-defendants could make trying the three on conspiracy charges a "practical impossibility." U.S. District Judge Gerhard A. Gesell raised the problem at a hearing on the difficulty resulting from immunized testimony given to Congress by North, a former National Security Council staff member; former presidential National Security Adviser John M. Poindexter, and businessman Albert A.

The judge in the Iran-Contra case questioned Thursday whether congressional immunity given to Oliver L. North and two co-defendants would make it a "practical impossibility" to try them on conspiracy charges. The limited immunity granted North, a fired National Security Council aide and retired Marine lieutenant colonel; former National Security Adviser John M. Poindexter and arms dealer Albert A. Hakim might interfere with their getting a fair trial on the most serious charges in the case, U.S.

In their testimony to congressional committees last year, Lt. Col. Oliver L. North and two other Iran-Contra defendants volunteered potentially crucial evidence that could be used against them in court, a special counsel for the prosecution said Thursday. North, John M. Poindexter and Albert A. Hakim testified only upon assurances that their testimony would not be used to prosecute them. But Herbert J.

Cash-tight Vivendi Universal has been ordered to pay $23.5 million in severance and bonuses to former Chief Executive Jean-Marie Messier, architect of the sprawling media empire that the French media giant looks to dismantle. A New York arbitration panel Friday rejected Vivendi's claim that a severance deal worked out July 1, 2002 -- the day Messier was forced out in a boardroom coup -- was invalid because it was not approved by all of the directors.

A California-based irradiation company and two executives have pleaded innocent to charges that they covered up a spill of radiation-contaminated water at a New Jersey plant by instructing employees to flush it down drains. Federal authorities said when the indictment was handed up in June that there was no current danger to the community surrounding the Dover plant.

While Capitol Hill debated the issue Friday, many lawyers voiced surprise that three major telephone companies had agreed to make available to the National Security Agency the phone records of tens of millions of Americans. That's because Congress made it illegal 20 years ago for telephone companies and computer service providers to turn over to the government records showing who their customers had dialed or e-mailed.