Free Republic

AUSTIN - U.S. Rep. Tom DeLay's lead lawyer accused Travis County prosecutors Thursday of trying to do an end run around the judge so DeLay would be unlikely to get a trial before summer. District Attorney Ronnie Earle's office did not respond to a request for comment. Senior District Judge Pat Priest had set a hearing for Dec. 27 to hear motions on DeLay's request to be tried separately on a money-laundering charge and on Earle's request to halt the proceedings while he appeals Priest's decision to throw out an accusation that DeLay conspired to violate the election code. DeLay's...

AUSTIN — A new judge was selected to preside over Rep. Tom DeLay's conspiracy and money laundering trial today, after another judge became the second to step away from involvement in the case because of political contributions he has made. Administrative Judge B.B. Schraub, a Republican who was to have selected the judge for the case, withdrew after Travis County District Attorney Ronnie Earle filed a request to have him removed. Two days earlier, District Judge Bob Perkins was removed from the case at DeLay's request because of his contributions to Democrats. >>>Schraub asked Texas Supreme Court Chief Justice Wallace...