Judge says lawyers should narrow down issues to keep ND death penalty case from bogging down

A federal judge called lawyers together from both sides of a North Dakota death penalty case and urged them on Monday to work together to avoid unnecessary delays.

Alfonso Rodriguez Jr., of Crookston, Minn., is facing execution for the 2003 kidnapping and killing of University of North Dakota student Dru Sjodin, of Pequot Lakes, Minn. Defense attorneys have filed a federal habeas corpus motion,