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Nowak Judge May Have Potential Conflict

Former Astronaut's Attorney Downplays Matter

POSTED: Wednesday, July 18, 2007
UPDATED: 10:28 am EDT July 18, 2007

During a status hearing Wednesday morning in the Lisa Nowak case, Judge Marc Lubet announced to the court that he once provided legal representation for Orlando police Detective William C. Becton, the chief investigating officer in Nowak's arrest.

"I just want to put that on the record that I'd done that," Lubet said.

The judge was making that part of the court record in the event a conflict of interest was raised, Local 6 News partner Florida Today reported.

Nowak's attorney Donald Lykkebak, said the matter was not that serious.

"I think the judge is a very fair person. I don't have any issue with it. Three or four years down the road, oftentimes we have a hard time remembering client's names," Lykkebak said.

Lykkebak said Nowak is doing well, and he expects her to attend the Aug. 24 hearing regarding his motion to suppress her confession and evidence found in her car.

The trial is still set for Sept. 24.

Nowak is charged with attempted kidnapping, battery and attempted vehicle burglary with a battery following the Feb. 5 incident in an Orlando International Airport parking lot.

Nowak told police she drove from Houston to Orlando to "talk" with Air Force Capt. Colleen Shipman about their mutual love interest -- Navy Cmdr. Bill Oefelein.

Shipman said that Nowak, who was wearing a wig and trench coat, doused Shipman’s face with pepper spray and tried desperately to get into her silver 2002 Saturn, according to a police.

Nowak carried with her that night a duffle bag filled with a BB pistol, a hat, a knife, a steel mallet, surgical rubber tubing and black plastic garbage bags, police records showed.

Nowak has pleaded not guilty to all charges.

Watch Local 6 News for more on this story.

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