Scruggs Nation: I Fought the Law and the Law Won version
Dickie Scruggs, Zach Scruggs, and their former law partner Sid Backstrom are to be sentenced July 2 in the Scruggs bribery scandal. John O'Brien at Legal Newsline has a story, and here is Judge Biggers' order setting the scheduling hearing.
Here's an excerpt from the judge's order:
The court has observed that the defendants have solicited numerous persons to write letters to the court requesting leniency for the defendants and making observations about the defendants’ character. The court will allow testimony from a maximum of three persons for each defendant in the defendant’s discretion at the sentencing hearing.
How much time for rebuttal witnesses?
Dickie Scruggs, as you may recall, is to receive five years in prison as part of his plea agreement, and Backstrom two-and-a-half, but Zach Scruggs' guilty plea came after what might loosely be termed the "open enrollment" period for plea bargains, and for plea bargains after the last date set from them before trial, the Court does not necessarily feel obligated to accept any terms worked out with prosecutors. In return for Zach Scruggs' plea to misprision of a felony, prosecutors are recommending a sentence of probation. We'll see if Judge Biggers goes with that or something harsher.
I find it most interesting that there is a four hour gap in the schedule between Dickie and Sidney but only an hour between Sid and Zack. Maybe Dick's character witnesses will be long winded.
I guess Sid will have a pretty good idea how the judge feels about "the crime" and the Government's recommedations by 2 PM. Ditto for Zach. I guess all three need to show up with a toothbrush and clean skivvies.
interesting catch, sampson. the only one of this bunch who is truly remorseful is Backstrom. that poor kid's wishing he never heard of one dick scruggs. his sentencing shouldn't take long, if he shows up as the Sid who took the guilty plea. Junior scruggs, on the other hand, is an entirely different story. here's the same arrogant little prick who pled guilty to some never-before-heard-of-little-more-than-a-misdemeanor-misprision-whatever, and made his final remarks to the Court, "God save this honorable court." If I'd been the good judge just for a minute or two, I'd told that that brat, "junior, this here court's doing just fine where God is concerned, young man; but since you're goin' have a bit of time to get your priorities right vis-a-vis that God whose name you're invoking, I'd suggest you get about the business of tending to what oughta be first on the list, kiddo...your own soul.
if you don't believe me, read the transcript. this bunch has never ceased to amaze, but that just about beat all.