texas justice Delayed?

[Goldensilence]

someone I SOMEONE please explain this to me.

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/front/3433588

Snip
AUSTIN — A new judge for U.S. Rep. Tom DeLay's criminal case could be named by Friday, Administrative Judge B.B. Schraub said today.

Schraub told The Associated Press that he will pick from a field of retired judges outside Austin's Travis County, where DeLay was indicted on charges of money laundering and conspiracy in a campaign finance scheme.

"I'm going to try to do it this week if I can find a judge that has the characteristics we're looking for and will do it," said Schraub, a Republican. He did not specify what those characteristics were.

[Why Syzygy]

1. Retired judges?

Maybe we have a Supreme Court issue here. NO WAY! RETIRED?

[texpatriot2004]

4. Outside of Austin's Travis County? nm

[Erika]

2. The last judge was dismissed because he gave to democrats

So let's see what this GOP political brat comes up with as he chooses his next judge.

[texpatriot2004]

5. I don't think he can get a fair trial if it's a Rethug judge. nm

[Brundle_Fly]

13. I would like to agree with you....

but what does it way when one of the countries top lawmakers doesn't want a judge because of political leanings. I think it means that that lawmaker has no faith in the system he is running.

and oh, fuck that shit, this should be a huge issue.

[Rose Siding]

3. Goldensilence, please edit your subject line.

In this forum, it must match the title of the published article, which is: "New DeLay judge could be named by Friday"

Thank you.

Welcome to DU :hi:

[VPStoltz]

6. What I don't get is that Texas judges are elected - right.

So, DeLay is saying the good people of his home state don't know shit about shit. The judges they elect are not good enough for him?

[aquart]

7. Tom DeLay is special.

I thought you knew.

[Why Syzygy]

8. WELL DUH!

This jerk is saying that his crimes are responsible for him not having a "fair trial". Well I guess not! Crimes do not exist in order to give aid to the criminal, do they? Only in Tom's world.

~snip~
The first order of business for the judge that Schraub selects will likely be a decision on DeLay's request to move the trial out of Travis County. Dick DeGuerin, one of DeLay's attorneys, has mentioned Fort Worth as an alternative, but it will be up to the judge to decide. The visiting judge will proceed in Travis County unless a change of venue is granted.

DeLay, 58, and two associates have been accused of funneling corporate donations going to a DeLay-founded political committee in Texas to the Republican National Committee, which sent the money back to GOP legislative candidates in Texas. Texas law forbids the direct use of corporate money for campaigning.

The alleged scheme was part of a plan DeLay helped set in motion in 2001 to help Republicans win control of the Texas House in the 2002 elections. The Republican Legislature then adopted a new congressional voting district map that DeLay crafted that helped put more Republicans in Congress in 2004.

The new map split Travis County, a Democratic stronghold, into three congressional districts, and forced longtime Democratic Congressman Lloyd Doggett to run in a district stretching from Austin to the Rio Grande Valley.

DeLay's request for a venue change contends that congressional redistricting created animosity toward DeLay in Travis County, hindering his ability to get a fair trial in Austin.
*** etc.

I say BULLSHIT!

[Erika]

9. No, DeLay says he cannot get a fair trial by a judge who contributed to De

We will remember that, long and hard.

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

10. The defense team gets to pick the judge?

Nope- no culture of corruption here. :puke:

[Erika]

11. Yes, Politicial contributions are now determining factors

DeLay has pretty well destroyed our judicial system.

[Why Syzygy]

12. Oh no.

Please don't be a doomsdayer. The article says they will not get a judge (although I sure don't understand the "retired" part) who donated to RWers either. Please read the article. And don't be going around doing doomsday stuff.

Delay certainly tore Texas apart, and now he's on TRIAL. He has CRIMINAL charges. Because he is an actual CRIMINAL.

Let's make the most of that and not allow them the satisfaction of "destoyed judicial system".

Man somtimes I want a megadose of anti-depressants when I come over here and read stuff.

[Erika]

14. DeLay had the judge let off because he contributed to Dems

This will be followed closely. If you think a democrat should be allowed to be tried by a judge who contributed to the republicans, you're nuts. DeLay has set the precedent. Live with it.

[Neil Lisst]

15. This is all fairly standard procedure.

Retired judges may sit as "visiting judges" under Texas state law. They do so all the time, especially in urban centers Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, and Austin.

Austin is in Travis County. I'm sure the judges in Travis County do not want to become the next judge to get the Perkins treatment. I'm not surprised that the judges who have to stand for reelection in Travis county don't want to hear the case. It's the kind of case that creates more grief than glory for a judge.

The presiding judge is doing exactly what I expected and predicted here at DU a few days ago. I am hopeful the retired judge will be a good one, not a Republican, but a really good retired Democrat with no active political record outside his own races.