“Whitey” Bulger asks U.S. Supreme Court to hear his case

BOSTON, Aug. 17 (UPI) — Convicted Boston gangster James “Whitey” Bulger is asking the US Supreme Court to consider his case and overturn his dozens of criminal convictions.

Bulger has petitioned for the consideration, or a writ of certiorari, after his appeal to the First US Circuit Court of Appeals failed in March. The court upheld Bulger’s convictions.

“Bulger got a fair trial and none of the complained-of conduct on the court or government’s part warrant reversal of his conviction,” the First Circuit judges ruled.

Bulger attorney Hank Brennon said Bulger wasn’t allowed to testify about his time as FBI informant or an alleged immunity deal with deceased former US Attorney Jeremiah O’Sullivan.

Burlger stood up in court during his 2013 trial and called it a sham and refused to testify.

Former federal prosecutor Brad Bailey said Bulger’s refusal to testify and the fact that the case doesn’t represent a larger issue will likely work against Bulger being heard by the court.

“The Supreme Court tends to only look at cases of really global issues. And, in this case, Whitey Bulger’s lawyer Hank Brennan has from the start claimed that he was deprived the right to present a fair trial – that being Whitey’s claim that he was immunized from any of these crimes,” Bailey said.

Bulger is serving a life sentence following is 2013 conviction on 31 counts of racketeering, including participation in 11 murders.