Prosecutor Barred From Representing Co-Worker

A Los Angeles prosecutor who said his public criticism of Dist. Atty. Gil Garcetti cost him a promotion will not be allowed to pursue that charge with the help of a fellow prosecutor, a Los Angeles judge decided Friday.

In a ruling that will be finalized in the next several weeks, Superior Court Judge Alan G. Buckner concluded that the state government code precludes Deputy Dist. Atty. Kevin Greber from being represented by a veteran deputy district attorney, Dinko Bozanich, during Civil Service Commission proceedings next month.

The prosecutors had argued that Greber was entitled to chose his counsel during the hearings, just as other county employees have represented one another during those proceedings. But Garcetti’s office, represented by outside counsel, challenged that argument on grounds that deputy district attorneys are prevented from representing anyone taking action against the county or its departments.

The judge’s ruling means that Greber will represent himself. He intends to press his claim that Garcetti denied him a promotion and then gave him a five-day suspension in retaliation for Greber’s public criticism of Garcetti over bonuses paid to prosecutors in the O.J. Simpson murder trial.

Garcetti has denied that charge, insisting that Greber was disciplined because he tried to use his position as a prosecutor to avoid a traffic citation by Los Angeles police--a charge Greber denies.