Legal Ethics
Miss. Judge is Federally Indicted in Scruggs-Related Corruption Case
Posted Feb 12, 2009, 07:30 pm CST
By Martha Neil
A Mississippi judge who presided over a bitter multimillion-dollar legal fees dispute concerning asbestos litigation has been indicted for allegedly secretly funneling information about the case to one of the attorneys involved.
Allegedly influenced by a promise of appointment to the federal bench, Hinds County Circuit Judge Bobby DeLaughter is accused of providing inside information, through a third party, to the legal team of Richard "Dickie" Scruggs, reports the Associated Press in a lengthy article about the case. Scruggs has since been convicted and disbarred.
DeLaughter is charged with conspiracy, mail fraud and obstruction. His indictment was unsealed today, and he pleaded not guilty at his arraignment today in U.S. District Court in Oxford, Miss. His lawyer didn't immediately respond to an AP request for comment.
A copy of the indictment (PDF) is provided by Y'all Politics.
Scruggs pleaded guilty earlier this week in a federal mail-fraud case concerning his conduct in the matter.
Hat tip: Legal Newsline.
Additional coverage:
Clarion-Ledger: "Judge accused of being influenced to rule in favor of Scruggs"
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