Federal prosecutors are disputing a judge’s order directing the Justice Department to bear the costs of a special master who is examining whether recordings of attorney-client meetings at the pretrial detention center in Leavenworth were illegal.
The appointment of the special master has emerged as a major point of contention. Prosecutors say the judge exceeded her authority in ordering them to pay the special master’s fees of $500 an hour. They say the costs could easily exceed $1 million.
Defense attorneys want the special master to investigate whether video and audio recordings of attorney-client meetings were turned over to prosecutors. They say such recordings violated inmates’ Sixth Amendment rights.