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Friday, March 29, 2024 | Back issues
Courthouse News Service Courthouse News Service

Cliven Bundy Gets 2 Weeks to Find Attorney

LAS VEGAS (CN) — Cliven Bundy on Thursday was given 14 days to find a new attorney after his lawyer asked to withdraw due to pending neck and back surgeries.

Las Vegas attorney Joel Hansen needs spinal fusion surgery on his neck and back, which will require 12 weeks of recovery time.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Peggy Leen on Thursday conditionally granted Hansen's request to withdraw, so long as he remains on the case for the next 30 days.

Bundy said Hansen informed him of his desire to withdraw from the case this week, and he does not have a replacement.

Leen asked Hansen if he had withdrawn from any other cases or plans to withdraw from a separate federal complaint Bundy filed against President Barack Obama, Nevada Senator Harry Reid, et al., accusing them of conspiring to steal his cattle and land.

Hansen said he has not, and is trying to get Bundy to dismiss his complaint against Obama. He said the federal case against Bundy is the only one that requires a great deal of time and effort.

Hansen said he was in pain while standing before Leen, and walked slowly and gingerly before the 10:30 a.m. hearing.

"I am functioning, but I'm in a lot of pain," Hansen said. "I'm not withdrawing for the purpose of quitting the trial. I am in pain and can't do it."

Leen said she does not want to "prejudice and delay" Bundy's legal defense, but she granted Hansen's request.

Bundy asked for 30 days to find a new attorney, but Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven Myhre objected, saying that was a long time with a trial set for early February.

Leen agreed and gave Bundy 14 days to find an attorney before another hearing, on Oct. 13, to address the matter.

Two co-defendants, Peter Santilli and O. Scott Drexler, also had motion hearings before Leen, but they were closed.

Santilli asked the court to allow paralegal Robert Gullo to visit Santilli and help him sift through discovery materials. Drexler, like Bundy, is searching for an attorney.

The three men are among 19 initially charged with up to 16 felonies arising from an April 2014 standoff with the Bureau of Land Management near the Bundy ranch in Bunkerville, Nev.

Two co-defendants have agreed to plea deals and await sentencing.

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