Second Judge Out for DeLay Trial

[Rose Siding]

AUSTIN, Texas - Two days after U.S. Rep. Tom DeLay won a fight to get a new judge in his case, prosecutors on Thursday succeeded in ousting the Republican jurist responsible for selecting the new judge.

Administrative Judge B.B. Schraub recused himself after District Attorney Ronnie Earle filed a motion asking for his removal from the case.
....
Earle said in his motion filed Thursday that Schraub has made more than $5,000 in contributions to Republican candidates, including to Gov. Rick Perry, a DeLay ally, which calls into question Schraub's impartiality in the case.

Prosecutors had asked for Schraub to recuse himself or appoint another judge to take his place. The motion said that Schraub could ask Perry to appoint the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals to assign a judge to conduct a hearing on the motion.

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[johnfunk]

1. Bwahahahaha! Two can play that game, Bugman!

[IChing]

5. I love Texas hard ball politcs, some of best fighting democrats anywhere.

I can't wait for Jury selection if they find a judge.

[Zen Democrat]

11. Yep. The original -- Yellow Dogs of Texas!

[President Jesus]

yeah, they sure have been sockin' it to the GOP the last 30 years!

not.

In short, this country is in the mess it's in because of Texas Republicans. If they received any kind of resistence in their home state, they probably wouldn't have had the time to focus on screwing up the rest of the country.

Me, I'm not impressed. Real fighting Democrats would never have alowed an evil bastard like DeLay to go to congress, and definitely would have never allowed a complete retard to be elected Governor.

[IChing]

27. I have great respect for many democratic texans on DU and in Texas

and I will not bash them in their battle against real evil.

Lloyd Doggett, Ann Richards and Hightower to name a few.

The Texans that supported Peace House in Crawford
that brought Cindy's fight into the news.

You have offended many with that remark.

[yowzayowzayowza]

29. Thx IChing...

Thatz mucho appreciated.

[yella_dawg]

40. Just sayin'

I don't disagree with your list, but any list of amazing Texas Dems has to include Barbara Jordan (RIP).

[Justitia]

33. You have NO IDEA the dirty tricks we have been victim to down here.

And yes, you will never find a Democrat that will fight like a Texas Democrat. We've been fighting for survival for a long time and not backing down. We're gaining in inches, yet we still don't give up - ever.

How many other state's Democrats actually LEFT TOWN, under the cover of night, under threat of arrest, with Homeland Security on their tails, to stop cold the gerrymandering and disenfranchising of their constituents?? It was high drama and high stakes, with more than re-election to lose. I will always support those brave dem dozen acting on my behalf.

Yes, we have gotten kicked around and knocked down, as a result of that lovely concept known as BIPARTISANSHIP, which worked so well in TX before we were overrun with CROOKS who took advantage of that spirit and dirty-tricked their way into office. Lying, cheating and stealing the entire way.

One thing we Texas Dems have learned is to NEVER TRUST REPUBLICANS and that is why I give none of them quarter, even on the national stage - I caution everyone else the same. What happened to us can happen in your state too.

We are fighting back hard now, and we aren't shrinking from going after their ringleaders (DeLay and his henchmen). And trust me, we will be kicking them when they are down too.

Thanks for your support, fellow Dem.

[President Jesus]

48. "We're gaining in inches"

really? You call what's been going on down there gaining?

No wonder your asses get handed to you every two years by complete corrupt idiots.

Speaking frankly, you should be embarassed to be from Texas. Everything (with the exception of kick-ass barbeque) that comes from that state is bad news. We are all suffering because of Texas assholes taking over Washington, and as soon as you stop patting yourselves on the back for losing year-after-year and start taking back your state from the lowest common denominator, forgive me if I withhold my glowing admiration for Texas "Dems."

[Justitia]

49. And just what safe, blue hamlet do you hail from?

Apparently you have no concept of what it is like to have the deck stacked against you by every illegal maneuver under the sun.
Must be cushy and comfy wherever you're at - that's great you don't have to fight tooth and nail for anything.

Obviously wherever YOU come from is completely devoid of political corruption - lucky you.

And obviously you know VERY LITTLE about the state of Texas - you are talking out of your ass.
I am NOT embarrassed to be from Texas, I have been a Texan longer than these assholes have been here, I remember when we were blue.
I could say the same about you for simply being an AMERICAN.

On behalf of hardworking Texas Democrats, I invite you to come to our great state and pitch in to fight for your democracy here on the front lines.
Test the mettle of your convictions a little.

'Course that might mean you have to get a little dirty and actually get off your ass and do something.
You know, besides bitch about a state you know nothing about.

[President Jesus]

50. "I remember when we were blue."

yeah, but then national Dems started to support equal rights for the "nigras" (or however your neighbors pronounce it), and all that blue started to fade, eh? Real noble. Real principled. You can't beat the neanderthals because, thanks to the piss-poor quality of your schoolin', the majority of your electorate can't understand rational debate or grasp complex issues. So everything gets dumbed down, and if there's one thing the 'pukes are superior at, it's winning the hearts and minds of the stupid.

Texas sucks.

[Justitia]

51. So, again, where are YOU from? Democratic Utopia?

And for the record, the only people I ever heard use the "N" word weren't from Texas.

I wonder how my rep Sheila Jackson Lee would feel about your comments.

Wherever YOU are from sure makes 'em rude.

[Justitia]

52. Oh yeah, BTW, the Civil Rights Act was signed by a TEXAS DEM.

Just thought I'd mention that for record-keeping.

[martymar64]

41. Don't go there with Texas bashing!

The Democrats in the Lege actually had to flee the state to try to prevent DeLays redistricting boondoggle. Governor Goodhair called THREE special sessions until that bit of crap was pushed through!
The problem for Democrats in Texas is that they are seriously outnumbered by RW wackos and Repuglican thieves. Also we resent being written off by the DNC because they don't see it as productive to fight them here. We need help from the rest of the country to fight the good fight, where are you when we really need you?

[stillcool]

42. Speaking of electing governors...

Massachusetts has Romney! The only problem i see with Texas is oil. Too much money gets you too much power..too much power gets you too much corruption.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

2. Good for Ronnie Earl

I was hoping he would be on the ball and not allow a repuke judge on the case. DeLay's finding out that what's good for the goose is good for the gander. And I'm hoping when the dust settles, DeLay's goose will be cooked.

[Igel]

14. Sad, actually.

The "repuke" (nicely dehumanizing, that) had a dem judge hear Delay's original complaint about a dem judge. That seemed fair. As to who would try the case--that was still an open question. No judge had been appointed yet.

Now we have precedent: if you're a dem, you can't have a repub judge hear your case--nor can you have a dem judge hear your case. And if you're repub, you also can't have a dem or repub judge hear your case. **Or even be allowed to assign a judge to the case.**

After all, we all know that to belong to a political party means you can't actually reason through the case, or appoint a fair judge to hear the case. Both a republican and a democrat have made their pronouncements. **And** had their pronouncements supported by those on their side of the ideological fence.

The well's getting full of piss. To bad many of those most in favor of the well being a latrine don't have to drink from it.

Who says fundies have to be part of a religion?

[MGKrebs]

32. I agree, but...

it should never have been allowed to influence the decision in the first place, but once it did, I think "we" were kind of stuck. Can't let them essentially appoint what would amount to a friendly judge. Have to fight them to a draw and start looking around for new weapons.

[Dulcinea]

46. DeLay is making a mockery of this process.

He's grasping at any straw to keep his inbred ass in Congress & out of the slammer. Here's hoping it doesn't work & he has to go back to killing bugs for a living, if not in jail.

[tanyev]

3. Tit for tat.

[Metta]

4. Way to go, Ronnie Earl.

I wonder if that was his tactic all along? What a guy.

[William769]

6. Do you think this will ever be able to get to trial?

[cassiepriam]

38. Not in this lifetime.

[rodeodance]

7. Just curious--Was Delay statistied with the new judge?

[JudyM]

21. The judge was just supposed to select another judge for DeLay's trial

He wasn't actually the trial judge, himself.

[napi21]

8. This could go on forever! Tx judges are elected, and they are all

partisan to some degree. I don't think they are ALL partisan in their rulings, but this foolishness about who donated to who is nuts! I doubt they'll ever be able to find ANY judge who hasn't made a political contribution to someone in their own party!

[Lexingtonian]

22. Hey, it's fine with me

That judge election is crap and should go. The more embarrassment of partisanship, hackery, and corruption of Texas government exposed by the DeLay/Earle fight the better, I say.

I expect/hope it ends up in front of a federal judge after a wholescale exposure of the Texas judiciary as incompetent to deal fairly with a high stakes/high public exposure political case. Texan provincialism in his favor is the what DeLay hopes to exploit; he may yet succeed, but we can at least do our best to burn that set of bridges down so that the next major Texas Republican defendant can't escape our boys.

[MADem]

25. Is there an unaffiliated, independent or Green Party judge in TX?

Gee, they may have some trouble finding someone who hasn't donated their way to power!!!

[napi21]

26. I don't think so. I lived in San Antonio for 6 years, and voted

in EVERY election. The biggest problem I saw with electing judges is that most of the voters look at names on a ballot and have no idea who they are or what their ideas are. They usually just vote a party line and hope for the best.

I don't remember ever seeing any alternate party judges on the ballot.

[LonelyLRLiberal]

9. DeLay grandstanding backfires - he's too dumb to predict this?

Or is this a strategy by DeLay legal team to have recusal after recusal to set up an eventual appeal of a conviction?

After all, when you elect judges and they run as party candidates, it will be difficult to find one who has not made contributions.

[katty]

10. Yea! go Earle

[yellowcanine]

12. This guy Earle is starting to impress me. I think the bugman may have

met his match. And then there are the not so disinterested federal prosecutors watching....and waiting.....and deposing......I do believe the bugman is going down.

[kansasblue]

30. Texas Fitz!

[SoCalDem]

13. Put all the judges names in a bag, and just draw one

Sheez...The damned judge is not deciding the case anyway.. there will be a jury..

What a mess we have turned the judiciary into.. Judges should not be political, but when they are elected or appointed by the party in power, how can they NOT be?


Perhaps they should be chosen by the bar associations of each state...solely based on their experience...:shrug:

Once made a judge, they should NEVER ever make political donations though...

[Bernardo de La Paz]

15. I call your judge and raise you.

[underpants]

16. Oh man would I have loved to seen his face

oh that would have been great.

[UTUSN]

17. The Recused Dem Judge(s) (to come) Are Lucky to Get the A-hole

out of their daily lives for months.

[lavenderdiva]

18. Yippee!

Go Ronnie! This is getting fun...

[President Jesus]

19. full list: Judge Schraub's campaign contributions

http://www.newsmeat.com/judiciary_political_donations/B_B_Schraub.php

[sundancekid]

44. the repukes stink: their judge = $2500 republican; dem judge gives

$200 to moveon and a total of $700 to kerry / Judge Robert Perkins (D)/
http://www.newsmeat.com/fec/bystate_detail.php?city=Austin&st=TX&last=perkins&first=robert

takes pot and kettle and calling "black" to a whole new level ...

[madmom]

20. Yes but perry will appoint someone with not so obvious ties,betcha! n/t

[MaineDem]

23. Judges in Maine are prohibted from making political contributions

Move the case here. I'd love to be on THAT jury!
:evilgrin:

[President Jesus]

47. that rule seems unconstitutional to me

[ET Awful]

24. LMAO . . .

Well played Ronnie. Well played. :)

[BR_Parkway]

28. Are we going to have to go to the UN? Wouldn't that frost a few

ReThugs?

[No Exit]

31. Bugman boogie!!!!!!!!

This is fun! It's like bowling!

[jazzjunkysue]

36. Lol!

Remember Elf Bowling a few years ago?

[Reciprocity]

34. One MAJOR fact that the media is not reporting is...

In Texas all judges are elected, so all our judges are either a D, I or R . So naturally they would have made donations to their parties. If by Perry they mean Goodhair this will NOT be an impartial judge.

quote:The motion said that Schraub could ask Perry to appoint the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals to assign a judge to conduct a hearing on the motion.

[IndianaGreen]

35. Solution: Select a Green or a Red judge

He/she will make sure that DeLay gets a fair trial and receives the maximum punishment allowed by law when he is convicted.

I can just imagine me going to traffic court and challenge the judge on the basis of his/her party's affiliation.

[leetrisck]

37. Wouldn't it be nice if we could all "judge shop" if

we had to go to court for something. Ken Starr was famous for it.

[twaddler01]

39. and it just keeps on going

when is this crap going to end?

[0007]

43. ......and Perry could ask junior, couldn't he?


Looks like love to me..

[Nothing Without Hope]

45. That's good news! I worried when I read about the Roach dumping the first

judge, even though his own Roachly lawyer donated more to the Dems. He was angling for a crony judge. But Ronnie E stepped on that move!

Thanks for posting this.