Prosecutors have said the raids of Michael Cohen’s office and home resulted from an investigation into possible fraud. | Seth Wenig/AP Photo Judge appoints former judge as special master in Michael Cohen case

A New York federal judge says she is appointing a former Manhattan federal judge to help determine what materials seized in raids on the home and office of President Donald Trump's private attorney are protected by attorney-client privilege.

Judge Kimba Wood said Thursday at a hearing that Barbara Jones has the right amount of experience to handle the study of materials seized in the April 9 raids that targeted attorney Michael Cohen.


Jones was a federal judge in New York for 17 years before leaving for private practice five years ago.

The judge noted that the government and Cohen's lawyers agreed that a "special master" was the best way to determine which materials should be off-limits to federal investigators.

Prosecutors have said the raids resulted from an investigation into possible fraud.

