But Attorney William Costopoulos still took direct aim at Lackawanna County District Attorney Michael Barrasse.

Mr. Costopoulos accused Mr. Barrasse of leaking information about a grand jury probe of his client and being less than forthright about a deal he tried to strike with Mr. Eagen.

He claimed Mr. Barrasse agreed to drop the criminal investigation of the former judge if Mr. Eagen promised not to seek re-election.

Because of Mr. Barrasse's alleged misconduct, Mr. Costopoulos feels all the charges against Mr. Eagen should be dismissed.

At the very least, Mr. Costopoulos asked to dismiss the obstruction of justice and charges relating to a letter the former judge wrote the state Attorney General's Office complaining about the actions of an agent. The defense attorney argued the alleged actions do not rise to the criminal level.

Deputy Attorney General Pat Blessington, who is prosecuting the charges against Mr. Eagen, disagreed with Mr. Costopoulos' contention that Mr. Bosha is the focus of the charges against Mr. Eagen.

Mr. Blessington vigorously opposed defense motions to dismiss a portion or all the charges against the former judge.

Mr. Bosha, a former Scranton insurance executive who Mr. Eagen frequently appointed guardian of estates of elderly incapacitated persons while he supervised Orphans Court, alleges he paid the former judge a total of $1,850 as a token of his appreciation for naming him guardian of the estates.

The allegation forms the basis of a conspiracy and bribery charge lodged against Mr. Eagen.

Mr. Bosha recently completed a 27-month term in federal prison for looting the estates of persons he was appointed to guard and earlier this year was sentenced in Lackawanna County Court to another one to two years in prison on theft and bribery and charges.

Mr. Costopoulos produced a letter from U.S. District Judge Edwin Kosik indicating Mr. Bosha was accorded special treatment, including dining with guards at the Lackawanna County Prison where he served a portion of his federal sentence, and wants retired Northumberland County Judge Barry F. Feudale, appointed specially to preside over the trial, to require Mr. Blessington to detail for him any other special considerations accorded Mr. Bosha.

Mr. Blessington maintained that prosecutors had nothing to do with Mr. Bosha's treatment at the county lock-up and said prosecutors in the district attorney's office insist he was given no favors by them.

Mr. Blessington went on to offer that while Mr. Bosha may be a key witness on the bribery and conspiracy charges against Mr. Eagen, he has nothing to do with the obstruction of justice, making false reports and tampering with public records charges against the former judge.

If the charges against Mr. Eagen are not dismissed and he is forced to go to trial, Mr. Costopoulos feels the trial should be moved to another county because of the publicity the case has attracted locally.