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Judges stand in contrast on release of Law's testimony

By Michael Rezendes and Matt Carroll, Globe Staff, 6/7/2002

uffolk Superior Court Judge Constance M. Sweeney said yesterday she will not allow the public release of Cardinal Bernard F. Law's pretrial testimony taken in connection with civil suits filed by alleged victims of former priest John J. Geoghan until Law's deposition is complete and he is given 30 days to review a transcript of his testimony.

But Sweeney's decision ran counter to an order by Middlesex Superior Court Judge Raymond J. Brassard that could result in the release of Law's pretrial testimony taken in separate lawsuits filed by alleged victims of the Rev. Paul R. Shanley, which could come as early as today.

Under Brassard's decision, transcripts and videotapes of Law's testimony in the Shanley case could be released after Law completes the second day of his deposition today. But it was unclear last night whether attorneys for Law or the archdiocese would appeal Brassard's decision.

In his ruling last week, Brassard also said a transcript of Bishop John B. McCormack's pretrial testimony taken Monday in the Shanley case could also be released today.

But he gave McCormack's lawyer, Timothy P. O'Neill, until 4 p.m. today to appeal his decision. And O'Neill said last night that he had not decided whether he would appeal.

Michael Rezendes can be reached at rezendes@globe.com. Matt Carroll can be reached at carroll@globe.com.

This story ran on page A16 of the Boston Globe on 6/7/2002.
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