U.S. Judge Aguilar Assailed, Lauded as Case Nears End

SAN FRANCISCO —  A prosecutor portrayed indicted federal judge Robert Aguilar in closing arguments Wednesday as a liar and a behind-the-scenes manipulator who attempted to influence other judges in criminal cases.

But Patrick Hallinan, Aguilar’s attorney, in his summation accused the prosecutors of using “lurid language” filled with “slander and smear” tactics to attack the judge with charges “when they knew there was no truth to it.”

“Don’t let the federal bench lose a man of this quality,” he said.

After 21 days of trial, the playing of 110 wiretap recordings and 35 prosecution witnesses, jurors are expected to begin deliberations today.

Aguilar, 58, the first federal judge in the nation charged with racketeering, allegedly conspired with Rudy Tham, 66, a convicted Teamsters Union embezzler, and Abe Chapman, 83, a convicted drug dealer. If convicted on all eight counts, Aguilar, of San Jose, could face 55 years in prison and a $2 million fine. Chapman and Tham would each face 10 years in prison.