Now the man who has been called the patron saint of hopeless cases has arguably the biggest challenge of his career: defending a notorious alleged gangster accused of killing 19 people.
Yesterday, a US magistrate judge ruled Bulger qualified for a court-appointed lawyer and handed Carney, who sat in the back of the courtroom, the case.
“To me, this is just the latest case I have where I have a client who is in a jam and I’m going to be the person to try and get him out,’’ Carney said in a telephone interview yesterday after the hearing. “It’s the thousandth time I’ve shook hands with a new client and said, ‘Hello, I’m Jay Carney.’ ’’
A lawyer whose quiet demeanor belies his passion for difficult cases, Carney has the right expertise and temperament to represent Bulger, legal observers said.
“Jay Carney is an outstanding criminal defense lawyer, and Whitey Bulger is very lucky to have him,’’ said Howard Cooper, a Boston criminal defense attorney whose firm had been scheduled to handle the 1995 racketeering charges against Bulger.
Those charges were dismissed yesterday, leaving only the 1999 murder charges. Federal magistrate judges typically select defense attorneys from a pre-approved panel of lawyers to represent clients who cannot afford to pay for their own representation.
“Jay is an extraordinarily well-prepared, hard-working, and able advocate, and when he gets in the courtroom, he’s the guy who is calm and deliberate and at the same time knows how to move a jury,’’ Cooper said.
Representing Bulger will shine an enormous spotlight on Carney. But with the publicity and prestige comes a tremendous workload, Cooper said.
“It’s a blessing and a curse,’’ he said. “There are incredible rights and issues at stake that require, after the news cameras have left you, that you roll up your sleeves and go to work.’’
Asked whether he was relieved or disappointed to lose the chance to represent Bulger, Cooper said, “No comment.’’
A graduate of Boston College Law School, Carney is familiar with the media glare.
He defended John C. Salvi III, who in 1994 shot up the Brookline clinics.
