Judge asked to reconsider pass for ex-lawmaker

LITTLE ROCK-A federal prosecutor is asking a judge to reconsider her ruling allowing indicted former Arkansas state Sen. Gilbert Baker a more than two-day pass from a substance-abuse treatment center in Russellville to attend his son's wedding and rehearsal dinner in Conway.

A motion filed Thursday says that because of "an inadvertent misunderstanding," prosecutors were not aware that Baker requested a 50-hour pass when they did not initially object to the request.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Patricia Harris on Wednesday granted a request for Baker to leave the treatment center from Feb. 22 through Feb. 24.

Thursday's motion recommends Baker be given a pass from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m. on Feb. 23 to attend the wedding.

Baker has pleaded not guilty to conspiring to bribe a judge and must undergo substance abuse counseling as a condition of his pre-trial release.

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