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Dickie Scruggs Pleads Guilty to Corruption in Miss.

By Jeralyn, Section Corruption Cases
Posted on Fri Mar 14, 2008 at 02:37:17 PM EST
Tags: Dickie Scruggs (all tags)
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Mississippi lawyer Dickie Scruggs, brother-in-law of former Sen. Trent Lott, pleaded guilty today to corruption charges.

Powerful plaintiffs' attorney Richard "Dickie" Scruggs and a co-defendant pleaded guilty Friday to conspiring to bribe a judge for a favorable ruling in a case involving legal fees from a post-Hurricane Katrina lawsuit.

....One of the best-known trial lawyers in the country, Scruggs was indicted along with his son and three associates in November. They were accused of conspiring to pay a Lafayette County Circuit Court judge $50,000 for a favorable ruling in a dispute over $26.5 million in legal fees from a mass settlement of Hurricane Katrina cases.

Scruggs pleaded to a five year count. There are no sentence concessions, each side can argue for the sentence they deem appropriate. The Government may ask for the 5 years. The plea agreement is here (pdf) and factual basis for the plea here (pdf).

The AP says it was a surprise plea. Trial was set at the end of the month. I don't think Scruggs had much choice. [More...]

The court docket shows the judge had already denied his motions to suppress the wiretap and dismiss the case on grounds of outrageous government conduct. The judge also agreed that "other acts" evidence from another case could come in.

Scruggs' son and law partner Zach, also charged in the case, did not plead and is expected to go to trial.

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    Dickie Scruggs Pleads Guilty to Corruption in Miss. | 12 comments (12 topical)

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    but... (5.00 / 1) (#2)
    by wasabi on Fri Mar 14, 2008 at 02:48:29 PM EST
    This story still can't compete with the pictures of Ashley Alexander Dupre spread across my TV.

    Too bad.  It has all the makings of a nice story --- Republicans bribing judges...

    Unfortunately, (none / 0) (#4)
    by Deconstructionist on Fri Mar 14, 2008 at 02:58:20 PM EST
     despite the Lott reference, Scruggs is a Democrat.

    Parent
    Makings of a nice story? (none / 0) (#5)
    by standingup on Fri Mar 14, 2008 at 02:58:35 PM EST
    This is a sad story.  I would hardly rejoice on the merit of it being one of a Republican bribing a judge either.  For your information, Scruggs has connections to both parties and has been a supporter of many Democratic candidates.  

    Parent
    Any chance (4.00 / 1) (#9)
    by faux facsimile on Fri Mar 14, 2008 at 03:47:01 PM EST
    Lott will be dragged into this? Scott Horton had a piece speculating as much not long ago.

    I don't understand... (none / 0) (#1)
    by desertswine on Fri Mar 14, 2008 at 02:43:06 PM EST
    Scruggs' motivation to bribery. I guess Scrooge was right; "There is no such thing as rich enough, only poor enough."

    An adult who goes by the name Dickie... (5.00 / 1) (#3)
    by Dadler on Fri Mar 14, 2008 at 02:49:49 PM EST
    ...is all I need to un