Federal prosecutors say charges reflect no tolerance for meddling with Miss. courts
By EMILY WAGSTER PETTUS
Associated Press Writer
OXFORD, Miss. (AP) _ Federal prosecutors said Thursday that the indictment of a high profile Mississippi plaintiffs attorney for judicial bribery shows the government will not tolerate attempts to manipulate the courts.
“Attempted bribery of a circuit judge strikes at the heart of our judicial system,” U.S. Attorney Jim Greenlee said.
Greenlee comments came at an Oxford news conference one day after Richard “Dickie” Scruggs was in federal court in Oxford to answer an indictment that accused him of conspiring to pay a judge $50,000 to rule in his favor in a lawsuit brought by other attorneys who sought fees for work on Katrina insurance litigation. Scruggs made millions from helping negotiate a multibillion dollar settlement with tobacco companies in the 1990s and now represents hundreds of Mississippi homeowners after Hurricane Katrina.
Circuit Court Judge Henry Lackey reported the “bribery overture” to federal authorities and agreed to assist investigators in an “undercover capacity,” according to the indictment.
Greenlee said Lackey would not be charged.
“Judge Lackey is a man of honor and extreme courage,” Greenlee said.
Greenlee said Lackey came to federal investigators within days of first being approached in March.
Scruggs was indicted along with three other attorneys, including his son, who is his law partner, and a former Mississippi auditor. They face charges including one count of defrauding the federal government and two counts of wire fraud.
“I’m convinced that these guys did not do what they’re accused of doing,” said Joey Langston, a lawyer for Scruggs’ firm, said after Wednesday’s court appearance.
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