Judge disallows Rudin defense attacks

Kim Smith

Thursday, Aug. 23, 2001 | 11:24 a.m.

District Judge Joseph Bonaventure told Margaret Rudin's defense attorneys Wednesday that their attacks on his performance are "without merit" and will not be considered when they fight for a new trial Friday.

Their claim that defense attorney Michael Amador was ineffective during Rudin's trial have some merit, however, Bonaventure said.

The judge's ruling was made during a private meeting with attorneys for both sides in his chambers. A transcript of the meeting was released this morning.

Bonaventure said the attorneys will be allowed to argue about Amador's effect on the trial on Friday. In addition, the judge said he would like to hear comments about Juror 11, Coreen Kovacs, who claims she was coerced into convicting Rudin in May.

After sitting through a 10-week trial, a Clark County jury found Rudin guilty of first-degree murder in the December 1994 death of her multimillionaire husband, Ronald Rudin, 64.

Rudin's new attorneys filed a motion for a new trial claiming Amador was ineffective and Bonaventure violated a number of judicial canons.

Deputy Public Defender Craig Creel claims that Bonaventure should have granted Rudin's request for a mistrial when she began complaining about Amador's performance several days into the trial.

In support of Rudin's position, Creel attached to his motion a number of affidavits. Among them was one from Amador's former secretary, in which she alleges Amador was a greedy, publicity-starved attorney who spent much of his time during the trial writing a book on the case, using drugs and hanging out with strippers.

Amador has repeatedly denied all of the allegations.

Creel also said that Bonaventure erred when he met with Rudin without any attorneys being present and that the judge's frequent complaints about Amador prejudiced the jury.

Should Bonaventure rule against Rudin, she will likely receive a life sentence Aug. 31.

The defense attorneys will then file an appeal with the Nevada Supreme Court. Their claims about Bonaventure will likely be included.