Judge Steps Into Another Brawl: The Libby Case -NYT

[goforit]

<http://www.nytimes.com/2005/11/04/politics/04judge.html>

Judge Steps Into Another Brawl: The Libby Case
By ERIC LICHTBLAU
Published: November 4, 2005

WASHINGTON, Nov. 3 - A few months ago, Judge Reggie B. Walton of Federal District Court broke up a street brawl and wrestled a man to the ground not far from the historic courthouse where he hears his cases.

Judge Reggie B. Walton will preside in the Libby perjury case.
On Thursday, Judge Walton found himself refereeing a brawl of a political variety, drawing the assignment by random lottery to hear the criminal case against I. Lewis Libby Jr., the former White House official accused of obstruction and perjury.

A former prosecutor and a White House official himself in the first Bush administration, Judge Walton has overseen high-profile cases on the bench before, including a recent civil suit brought against the government by Stephen J. Hatfill, a scientist who says he was wrongly linked to the 2001 anthrax attacks.

But the Libby case is clearly Judge Walton's biggest to date, and the complicated nature of the proceedings, which lawyers at Thursday's arraignment said could take months to resolve, puts him in a pivotal position. The judge is likely to have to rule on what classified evidence can be introduced involving Iraqi intelligence and Valerie Wilson, a Central Intelligence Agency operative whose identity was disclosed, whether lawyers for Mr. Libby can pursue a defense based on First Amendment grounds, and even whether top White House officials like Mr. Libby's former boss, Vice President Dick Cheney, may be compelled to testify.

Some critics of the administration say they want to see the case against Mr. Libby turned into a trial of the White House's use of intelligence before the Iraqi war, but those who know Judge Walton say they doubt that he will let that happen.



Con't............


(I can't believe he's another GHWB appointee)
(Unf%^&ing believable)

A SERIOUS CONFLICT OF INTEREST!!!!!!!!!

[xchrom]

1. the damage to the judiciary since reagan

is enormous.

but control of the judiciary is to me the primary reason for the election theft in 00.

[MissWaverly]

2. the primary reason for election 00

was to stage Iraq II, not to be confused with Poppy Bush's war, and
to have the ALL the oil from Iraq siphoned off by Halliburton with no
accountability.

[Toots]

3. Has this judge contributed to Republicans and if so the Delay precedent

should apply....

[goforit]

5. LOL!!!....Yes this is an outstanding point! What will Fitz do?

Bring it on GOP!!!

[UTUSN]

4. Maybe He's a DISGRUNTLED Poppy Courtier - What's HATFILL's Status? n/t

[Judi Lynn]

6. Here's a little more information covering several areas of focus

Thanks to "Cedwyn:"

Libby's Arraignment Judge: Reggie Walton

http://dembloggers.com/story/2005/10/29/102634/16

[TomInTib]

7. Isn't this the judge in Sibel Edmond's case?

Seems like I read that.

[Triana]

8. "and a White House official himself in the first Bush administration"

Well now. We know exactly where THIS will go, don't we?

ABSOLUTELY NOWHERE. The Judge ought to be forced to RECUSE himself as he is a bu$h Crime Family associate and because he's worked for them. OF COURSE he isn't going to investigate the actual CASE (ie: the White House's misuse of intel before invading Iraq). He'll investigate a hair on Libby's head and split that into pieces instead, ignoring the BIG PICTURE.

What a crock of sewage.

[WhiteTara]

9. The Republican controlled Senate

stopped almost every Clinton judicial appointee, so we have to reach back into the Carter Admin for any democratic appointees.