OXFORD, Miss., Jan. 16 (UPI) -- A federal judge in Oxford, Miss., has postponed a high-profile judicial bribery trial to give the defense more time to file motions.
U.S. District Judge Neal Biggers pushed the trial of lawyer Dickie Scruggs and his alleged accomplices back to March 31 after defense lawyers requested more time to file motions in the case, the Jackson (Miss.) Clarion-Ledger reported Wednesday.
Scruggs, his son, Zach, and law partner Sidney Backstrom have all pleaded not guilty to judicial bribery charges stemming from allegations that a judge was offered a bribe to give a favorable ruling in a lawsuit concerning $26 million in legal fees Scruggs collected for litigation performed on behalf of Hurricane Katrina victims.
Former State Auditor Steve Patterson and New Albany lawyer Timothy Balducci pleaded guilty to bribery charges in the case.
