LOS ANGELES (AP) — Federal prosecutors said today that they would seek the death penalty for a self-avowed white supremacist charged with shooting up a Jewish community center and then killing a postman.

U.S. Attorney Alejandro N. Mayorkas filed the notice against Buford O. Furrow. It said the death penalty would be sought and that prosecutors agreed to go to trial Nov. 14 but the details were filed under seal.

Furrow was indicted on hate crimes in the wounding last August of three boys, a teen-age girl and a receptionist at the North Valley Jewish Community Center and the killing of Filipino-American letter carrier Joseph Ileto the same day. Three of the 16 federal counts alleged crimes that are eligible for the death penalty.

When Furrow was arraigned Monday, the judge entered innocent pleas on his behalf.

Prosecutors then said a decision about the death penalty would be left to Attorney General Janet Reno.

"It's her decision alone," Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Gennaco said. "And it is not reviewable by any court."

Because today's notice was filed under seal, no one can comment on the contents or the rationale for the decision, said Thom Mrozek, spokesman for the U.S. attorney in Los Angeles.

Federal Public Defender Sean K. Kennedy, one of Furrow's lawyers, didn't immediately return telephone messages seeking comment.

U.S. District Court Judge Richard Paez earlier refused a request from Furrow's lawyers seeking access to internal documents the government used to decide the death penalty issue.

Among those documents were reports on Furrow's mental history. The defense is expected to include a claim that Furrow, of Olympia, Wash., has a long history of mental illness and was not in his right mind at the time of the shootings.

The deadline for filing motions challenging death penalty statutes is April 24.

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