1 trial for 2 defendants in Mass. lottery case

BOSTON (AP) — A judge has refused to order separate trials for former state probation Commissioner John O'Brien and his codefendant, ex-Treasury aide Scott Campbell, over objections from their lawyers.

O'Brien is accused of getting a job for his wife at the state lottery by organizing a 2005 fundraiser for former state Treasurer Timothy Cahill. Campbell, Cahill's chief of staff, is accused of conspiring to hire Laurie O'Brien and violating campaign finance laws.

Lawyers for O'Brien and Campbell tell The Boston Globe (http://bo.st/YFg4ng ) their clients will each argue that they did not know there was a connection between the fundraiser and the job offer for Laurie O'Brien. They intend on pointing the finger at each other.

They are scheduled to go to trial and April and the judge says she may reconsider.

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Information from: The Boston Globe, http://www.boston.com/globe

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