Birmingham Blues

It looks like Club Fed for Siegelman and Scrushy, according to experts. Who knew there were federal prison experts?
Edward S. Bales, who runs a national consulting firm specializing in federal prison, said that Siegelman can expect a prison sentence in the four-to-eight-year range. With no prior criminal record and no history of violence, he said, [...]

And his lawyer helps. Or not.
“This is the worst miscarriage of justice since General Sherman burned Atlanta,” his attorney, Terry Butts, said angrily following the verdict.
I guess this means Scrushy’s next TV show will be aimed at white Southerners.

Shorter Siegelman: They only found me guilty of seven out of thirty-two counts. That means I’m innocent. And anyway, everyone else is doing it. And I’m going to appeal this all the way to the Supreme Court.
Shorter Scrushy: Dr. King must be spinning in his grave at this injustice. And just to pay you back, [...]

Don Siegelman guilty on seven six seven counts of bribery, conspiracy, and mail fraud. Paul Hamrick cleared. Mack Roberts cleared. Richard Scrushy guilty on six counts of bribery, conspiracy, and mail fraud.
UPDATE: Here’s a list of the counts and verdicts for each defendant.

The Arkansas Supreme Court used its common sense today to rule that it’s unconstitutional to disqualify foster parent applicants based solely on their sexual orientation.
The justices rejected an appeal from the Arkansas Department of Health and Human Services which had argued children would suffer under the care of gays or lesbians.
“There is no correlation between [...]

Those “activist” judges strike again. The Supreme Court just told Bush, again, that he can’t make up the rules as he goes along.
WASHINGTON - The Supreme Court ruled Thursday that President Bush overstepped his authority in ordering military war crimes trials for Guantanamo Bay detainees.
The ruling, a rebuke to the administration and its aggressive [...]

This wouldn’t be funny if it hadn’t ended well. Eddie Smith, who apparently is so dedicated to fishing that he removed an ankle bracelet in order to go to a fishing tournament (which he won, BTW), got a bit upset when Alden Thornton repossessed his tournament boat. The two engaged in a highway [...]

In its rush to move Alabama’s 2008 presidential primary to February, the Legislature approved a bill that not only moved the presidential primary but also state and local primaries to Mardi Gras Day. Mobile businesses are traditionally closed on that day, and residents and tourists will be busy with parades and parties. I [...]

UPDATE: The judge was convicted.
It’s been an embarrassing ordeal to try a judge accused of using a penis pump and exposing himself in the courtroom.
BRISTOW, Okla. (AP) - Serving on the jury in an indecent-exposure trial unfolding in this conservative Oklahoma town has been a giggle-inducing experience.
Former Judge Donald D. Thompson, a veteran of [...]

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