NYC judge eyes ruling Rosenberg case

NEW YORK U.S. District Judge Alvin K. Hellerstein told lawyers he'd rule later Tuesday on a request by historical groups to make public the secret testimony in the Cold War spy case that resulted in the couple's execution.

The government says it won't oppose releasing testimony of dead witnesses or those who gave consent.

But a prosecutor argued Tuesday that preserving grand jury secrecy outweighed the historical interests of making public the testimony of still-living witnesses who would object, like Ethel Rosenberg's brother-in-law.

The judge agreed the brother-in-law's grand jury testimony probably should be kept secret.