SAN FRANCISCO — A suspended California state senator has chosen a new lawyer to defend him against federal corruption and gun-trafficking charges.
State Sen. Leland Yee's former attorney Paul DeMeester confirmed Wednesday that Yee has replaced him with James Lassart.
DeMeester said that the change was Yee's choice and that there was no conflict or disagreement.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Joseph Spero assigned Martha Boersch as the defense lawyer of another defendant, the former gangster Raymond "Shrimp Boy" Chow.
KGO-TV reports that Yee's next court appearance is an April 8 arraignment.
Most of the 26 defendants are expected to be arraigned at that hearing.
