Judge Won't Extend Deadline For Tsarnaev's Lawyers

A federal judge has rejected a request by lawyers for Boston Marathon bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev to order prosecutors to give the defense more time to prepare arguments against the death penalty.

Prosecutors have said they plan to make a recommendation to U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder by Oct. 31 on whether to seek the death penalty against Tsarnaev.

Tsarnaev's lawyers objected to that timetable. They asked a judge to order prosecutors to extend an Oct. 24 deadline for the defense to submit its case against the death penalty for inclusion in prosecutors' recommendation to Holder.

Judge George O'Toole Jr. ruled Friday that he will not get involved in Justice Department deliberations.

Twin explosions near the finish line of the April 15 marathon killed three people and injured more than 260.