Willacy County(Cheney/Gonzo) Hearings Get Underway

[tekisui]

RAYMONDVILLE - A hearing is set to get under way shortly at the Willacy County courthouse where attorneys representing U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney, former Attorney General Alberto Gonzales and other state, federal and local officials will attempt to quash a number of indictments that accuse the officials of various charges related to a private jail construction project in Willacy County.

State District Judge J. Manuel Bañales arrived a short time ago surrounded by Texas Rangers.

On Monday, a grand jury indicted Cheney, Gonzales, State Sen. Eddie Lucio Jr., 103rd District Judge Janet Leal, 197th District Judge Migdalia Lopez, former Willacy County special prosecutors Mervyn Mosbacker Jr. and Gustavo Garza, and Willacy County Clerk Gilbert Lozano.

Willacy County District Attorney Juan Angel Guerra, who only has six weeks left in office, said he will appear in court this morning. On Wednesday, he was not present during court proceedings where attorneys tried to have all the indictments quashed.

Guerra claims he was not informed of the proceedings and was out of town.

This morning his staff was seen carrying boxes of of files into the courtroom. Judge Banales instructed in his order that Guerra bring all related case files to court this morning.

check in with this link for updates: http://www.brownsvilleherald.com/news/willacy_92038___article.html/county_way.html

[snappyturtle]

1. Thanks! nt

[tekisui]

2. UPDATE: DA file smotion to have judge recused.

RAYMONDVILLE - A hearing got under way moments ago at the Willacy County courthouse where attorneys representing U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney, former Attorney General Alberto Gonzales and other state, federal and local officials were going to attempt to quash a number of indictments that accuse the officials of various charges related to a private jail construction project in Willacy County.

But just as the proceedings got started, they took a surprising twist.

Willacy County District Attorney Juan Angel Guerra, who only has six weeks left in office, filed a motion to have State District Judge J. Manuel Bañales recused from the case.

When Banales arrived at the courthouse this morning he was surrounded by Texas Rangers.

(from link in OP)