Published: July 16, 2008 04:34 pm            

Judge grants Stipe's request to attend brother's funeral

U.S. District Judge Ronald White has issued an order allowing former District 7 state Sen. Gene Stipe to attend the funeral of his brother, Francis Stipe, in McAlester on Thursday.

White issued an order partially granting and partially denying a request made by Michael Burrage, a former federal judge and one of Gene Stipe’s defense attorneys.

Burrage had asked that Gene Stipe be released from the U.S. Medical Center for Prisoners in Springfield, Mo., where he is currently undergoing medical treatment testing, so he could attend his brother’s funeral.

Burrage also asked that Gene Stipe be allowed to attend any family gatherings related to his brother’s funeral and that he be allowed to report back t o the medical center in Springfield no later than Sunday at 3 p.m.

White issued an order today from the Eastern District of Oklahoma U.S. Courthouse in Muskogee saying Stipe will be allowed to attend his brother’s funeral and any related family gatherings, but he must report back to the federal facility no later than 5 p.m. on Saturday.

Burrage said in his motion that Assistant U.S. Attorney Gay Guthrie said the U.S. Department of Justice had no objection to Gene Stipe being allowed to attend his brother’s funeral.

        

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