DeLay heads for top appeals court

[Judi Lynn]

Dec. 23, 2005, 12:15AM
DeLay heads for top appeals court
Lawmaker steps up bid for a speedy trial after his latest attempt is denied


By JANET ELLIOTT
Copyright 2005 Houston Chronicle Austin Bureau

AUSTIN - After being rebuffed by one appeals court in his effort to get a speedy trial, U.S. Rep. Tom DeLay plans to quickly take his case to the higher Court of Criminal Appeals.
(snip)

In an order made public Thursday, a three-judge panel of the 3rd Court of Appeals rejected DeLay's bid to be tried on a money-laundering charge while prosecutors appeal the dismissal of a related charge accusing DeLay of violating the election code in 2002.

The panel of two Democrats and one Republican also rejected a motion to expedite the appeal by shortening the time for filing briefs from the customary 20 days per side to five days.

DeGuerin said DeLay will seek emergency relief from the Court of Criminal Appeals. The highest appeals court for criminal cases comprises nine Republican judges.
(snip/...)

http://chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/3543958.html

[AtomicKitten]

1. Just like a Republican to court/judge shop.

It gives insight into what they really mean when they talk about "judicial activism." It's okay as long as they rule on their behalf.

[rodeodance]

5. bugman usually gets what he wants-but he has run up to obstacles--the

courts.

[AtomicKitten]

2. duplicate post

[54anickel]

3. What an a$$wipe...he's sooooo important to the business of the USA

He will argue that a long legal battle would disrupt Congress. DeLay had to step down as majority leader when he was indicted by a Travis County grand jury in September.

"Ronnie Earle, a local county prosecutor, is affecting the business of the United States by his foot dragging and his frivolous appeals," DeGuerin said.

Wonder if those 9 Republican judges will touch this one. Would look pretty bad if they find in his favor.


Link didn't work for me, used this one:
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/3543958.html

[0007]

4. Tom Craddick is the mystery man - He was part of the TRMPAC

scam. Somehow by paying his attorney $75,000, Craddick wasn't caught in the net.

The case against DeLay, John Colyandro and Jim Ellis stems from an alleged scheme to get around the state election code's ban on corporate financing of candidates.

The DeLay-founded Texans for a Republican Majority raised about $600,000 in corporate donations during the 2002 state elections, but Texas law restricted that money to committee administrative expenses. In September 2002, TRMPAC donated $190,000 to the Republican National Committee, which within days sent $190,000 raised from individuals to seven GOP Texas House candidates.

[fasttense]

6. Will they bite the hand that feeds them???? n/t

[OKNancy]

7. Kick

:kick:

[Judi Lynn]

8. Kick!

:kick: :kick: :kick:

[sabra]

9. DeLay heads for top appeals court

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/3543958.html

DeLay heads for top appeals court
Lawmaker steps up bid for a speedy trial after his latest attempt is denied

AUSTIN - After being rebuffed by one appeals court in his effort to get a speedy trial, U.S. Rep. Tom DeLay plans to quickly take his case to the higher Court of Criminal Appeals.

A January trial is an essential step in the Sugar Land Republican's efforts to regain his position as majority leader of the U.S. House of Representatives.

"We're not through. We're going to the top," said DeLay's lead lawyer, Dick DeGuerin.

In an order made public Thursday, a three-judge panel of the 3rd Court of Appeals rejected DeLay's bid to be tried on a money-laundering charge while prosecutors appeal the dismissal of a related charge accusing DeLay of violating the election code in 2002.

[madrchsod]

10. tom`s burning up alot of money

i`ll bet he`s having another fund drive real soon. poor tommy he`s not going to get anywhere with this appeal.he`s pissed because he can`t bribe the judiciary

[searchingforlight]

11. Don't count on the fact that he can't bribe the judges.

I also think that he is not paying for this defense out of his own pocket. There are many people who stand to lose if he is forced to trial. Dirty little secrets are like farts - they can affect everyone who is near.

[UpInArms]

12. editorial: The beginning of the end of DeLay's reign

http://www.statesman.com/opinion/content/editorial/stories/12/23delay_edit.html

It's beginning to look like U.S. Rep. Tom DeLay inadvertently traded his kingdom for six more GOP seats from Texas in the U.S. House. Oddly, but perhaps appropriately, his last shot at keeping it may come from a panel best known for its devotion to the death penalty: the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals.

In what to the outsider looks like routine procedural rulings, the Austin-based 3rd Court of Appeals on Thursday might have indirectly ended DeLay's reign as one of the nation's most powerful political leaders.

DeLay, a Republican from Sugar Land, needs a quick trial — and acquittal, on charges of campaign money laundering — in order to get his job back as the GOP's majority leader in the House. As majority leader, DeLay proved to be such a tough-nosed, partisan legislative boss that he was known as "the Hammer." But once he was indicted in September, he had to give up his post until the charges are resolved. The longer he's out of office, the less likely he can get it back.

The charges stem from DeLay's role in raising campaign money in 2002 to elect more Republicans to the Texas House. In turn, those Republicans redrew the Texas congressional lines in 2003, which resulted in a shift in the delegation, from 17 Democrats and 15 Republicans to 21 Republicans and 11 Democrats.

On Thursday, the 3rd Court refused to speed up its schedule to rule on certain appeals before a trial can begin. Instead of January, it could be weeks or even months later before a trial begins.

The DeLay camp will appeal once more, to the Court of Criminal Appeals, in hopes of getting some or all of the charges against him dismissed and other issues cleared away for a speedy trial, if one is still needed. The nine-member court is made up mostly of former prosecutors whose election campaigns typically stress strict law and order. The court has been particularly adamant in upholding death penalty convictions, to the point of provoking barbed criticism from the U.S. Supreme Court.

...more...

[ecoalex]

13. Ah, but will they allow Delay what he wants?

Strict law and order works against some, but is a haven for others.We'll see what judicial morals this appeals court has.I predict they will allow in favor of Delay.

[gratuitous]

14. Another laughable lede

DeLay now is directing all his efforts at getting a speedy trial, when he stonewalled Earle's investigations into his political shenanigans for years.

It's also laughable that DeLay's attorney DeGuerin (hmmm, sure are a lot of names of French derivation here) is calling Earle's appeal "frivolous." Uhm, Mr. DeGuerin? When you win the appeal, that is prima facie evidence that it wasn't frivolous. Your hysterical emergency appeal of that decision may be, though.

[MidwestTransplant]

16. Like somebody wrote the other day

DeGuerin miscalculated by trying to get the conspiracy charge tossed as it would invariably have led to a delay of this nature. Why in the hell would the courts want to allow Delay to possibly have two trials (if Earle win's his appeal) and thereby tie up court resources.

[BlueCollar]

15. ho hum

delay will get a pass in Texas by elected Republican Judges. I have lived here long enough to see that Texas justice serves only the wealthy anglo male defendants.

This state has served up bush*, armey, delay, cornyn, hutchison, sessions et al...

I have no faith that the justice system will work in Texas

[Humor_In_Cuneiform]

17. Oh the irony. Now he seeks help from the judiciary he was so angry with

about Schiavo, who he practically threatened.

"The time will come for the men responsible for this to answer for their behavior."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A26236-2005Apr4.html


You could even call it "justice."

[proud2BlibKansan]

18. OK now I am getting pissed off

Would any other defendant accused of this same crime get the rush job DeLay is asking for? Wouldn't most other defendants also have important jobs to return to?

What makes mr. "I AM the federal govt" so special?

[yellowcanine]

19. Happy Holidays, Bugman. Nice to know that the Bugman will be

preoccupied with his legal difficulties through the holiday season. And a Merry Christmas too, Bugman.

[sam the dawg]

20. whozit?

who is DeGuerin?
Is this the one that tried to negotiate on behalf of D Koresh's family during the Waco seige?
Or is it someone else?
Curious.

[stepnw1f]

22. who cares if he did

Lawyers are impartial when representing clients. Or did ya not know that too?

Oh... just sayin'.

[NYC]

23. Same one.

I had asked that question a while back.

Welcome to DU. :hi:

[Pithy Cherub]

21. Tsk. Tsk. Is DeLay forgetting all about Abramoff?

The Cockroach Congress critter from Texas *thinks* he only has one problem. Watching Delay high dive into an empty sympathy swimming pool is getting pretty repetitive. Ah, the stench of republican corruption.
:popcorn:

[No Exit]

24. Good God! For a sec there I thought Junior had appointed him to it.

After all, he's gonna be out of a job soon.