Attorneys for accused Tree of Life shooter continue to eye plea deal

Attorneys for accused Tree of Life shooter Robert Bowers continue to eye a potential plea deal that would take the death penalty off the table in favor of life in federal prison.

Bowers waived his federal court appearance Thursday at a status hearing that lasted less than 20 minutes, court records show.

Bowers was not present for the hearing.

The two sides have discussed the potential for a plea deal. Prosecutors have not decided whether they will pursue the death penalty, court records show.

Bowers, 46, faces 63 federal charges in connection with the Oct. 27 shooting at the Tree of Life synagogue that left 11 worshippers dead across three congregations. He wounded two other congregants and five police officers.

One of his attorneys, Judy Clarke, has expressed since the beginning an interest in striking a deal instead of heading to trial.

Clarke, a San Diego-based attorney with a reputation for keeping notorious killers from the death penalty, joined Bowers’ defense team in January. Among her former clients are the Unabomber, Ted Kaczynski, and Zacarias Moussaoui, convicted of helping mastermind the 9/11 attacks.

A telephone status conference is scheduled for Aug. 5.