Jared Lee Loughner has written two letters about his relationship with his attorneys to the federal judge presiding over his case, U.S. District Judge Larry A. Burns said in an order issued late Wednesday.
Burns ordered that the letters be provided to Loughner’s attorneys exclusively, not to federal prosecutors. The judge did not detail the content of the letters except to say he received them recently and that “the subject matter pertains to the attorney-client relationship.”
Loughner is being represented by a high-profile defense team, led by San Diego attorney Judy Clarke. She argued in March that Burns should not order Loughner to have an examination of his competency to assist his attorneys, because it was so early in the case it could damage their relationship. Burns rejected the argument and ordered the competency evaluations.
Loughner has pleaded not guilty to federal charges stemming from the Jan. 8 shooting at a meet-and-greet event where six people died, including a 9-year-old girl and a federal judge. U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords and 12 others were wounded in the shooting spree.
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Loughner’s mental-competency hearing is scheduled for May 25.
In a separate order, Burns said Thursday he has received reports on Loughner’s competency from Drs. Christina Pietz and Matthew Carroll. He asked the attorneys in the case to decide by noon Monday whether they want to question either of them during a competency hearing.
