I suppose if you are only allowed to be tried by a judge of your own party, if you're a Republican that is.
Rep. Tom DeLay appeared in court Friday for the first time since indictment, but arraignment on conspiracy and money laundering charges was delayed pending a hearing on his request for a new judge in the politically-charged case.
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Inside the courtroom, Judge Bob Perkins told defense lawyer Dick DeGuerin that "the best way for me to handle" the request for a new judge would be to defer further proceedings.
That set the stage for a pointed exchange between the two men that seemed as much a campaign debate as a courtroom exchange.
In respectful tones, DeGuerin noted that Perkins had donated money to MoveOn.org, a liberal organization that he said has been "selling T-shirts with Mr. DeLay's mug shot on it."
Judge responds
"Let me just say I haven't ever seen that T-shirt, number one. Number two, I haven't bought it. Number three, the last time I contributed to MoveOn that I know of was prior to the November election last year, when they were primarily helping Sen. Kerry," responded the judge.
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Prosecutor Ronnie Earle signaled he intends to contest the request for a new judge.
"What this means is if a judge had contributed to Crime Stoppers that judge could not hear a burglary case," Earle said. "Carried to its extreme, that is what I think this motion means and I think that's absurd."
It is absurd. DeLay's defense is basically saying you can't be tried by a judge of opposing political views. Does that mean we need to amend the Constitution so that when a President is impeached only the Senators of his party are in session for the trial?
Ethics
Tom DeLay
Corruption
Republicans
Politics
Stupidity
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