Prosecutors: James "Whitey" Bulger's immunity claim "absurd"

(CBS/AP) BOSTON - Reputed Boston gangster James "Whitey" Bulger appeared in federal court in Boston at a pretrial hearing regarding his attempts to claim immunity.

Pictures: Guns and Money: Whitey Bulger evidence

Judge Denise Casper did not immediately rule Friday on a request by Bulger's lawyers to reverse an earlier ruling barring their client from claiming immunity as a defense at his June trial.

Prosecutors say the immunity claim is "absurd."

Bulger claims a now-deceased federal prosecutor gave him immunity for his crimes. The previous judge ruled that Bulger couldn't present evidence about his claim that the immunity deal applied to future crimes he committed.

At Friday's hearing, Casper also outlined jury selection plans for Bulger's trial.

The 83-year-old Bulger is charged with participating in 19 murders. Relatives of many of his alleged victims attended the hearing.

Read complete coverage of the "Whitey" Bulger case on Crimesider