Death penalty a factor Ariz. suspect lawyer search

PHOENIX – A public defender says a possibility of the death penalty in the Arizona shooting rampage complicates the search for lawyers to represent the suspect.

Twenty-two-year-old Jared Loughner (LAWF'-nuhr), of Tucson, is accused of killing six people and wounding 14 others, including Rep. Gabrielle Giffords.

Federal Public Defender Jon Sands said in a filing Monday that Clarke and another outside attorney, Mark Fleming, should be appointed because Loughner's lawyers must be qualified in death penalty cases.

He has called on San Diego attorney Judy Clarke, a former federal public defender who served on high profile cases, including Timothy McVeigh, a coconspirator in the 1995 Oklahoma bombing.

Prosecutors have not said if they'll seek the death penalty.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.

PHOENIX (AP) — A public defender says a possibility of the death penalty in the Arizona shooting rampage complicates the search for lawyers to represent the suspect.

Twenty-two-year-old Jared Loughner (LAWF'-nuhr), of Tucson, is accused of killing six people and wounded 13 others, including Rep. Gabrielle Giffords.

Federal Public Defender Jon Sands said in a filing Monday that Clarke and another outside attorney, Mark Fleming, should be appointed because Loughner's lawyers must be qualified in death penalty cases.

He has called on San Diego attorney Judy Clarke, a former federal public defender who served on high profile cases, including Timothy McVeigh, a coconspirator in the 1995 Oklahoma bombing.

Prosecutors have not said if they'll seek the death penalty.

(This version CORRECTS number of wounded.)