Miss. Supreme Court Justice Indicted

[UpInArms]

http://abcnews.go.com/wire/US/ap20030725_1795.html

A state Supreme Court justice and a prominent attorney were indicted Friday in a federal investigation into whether trial lawyers bribed judges in exchange for favorable treatment.

The 16-count bribery and fraud indictment includes an accusation that attorney Paul Minor guaranteed a $75,000 loan to Justice Oliver Diaz Jr. and Diaz's former wife in exchange for favorable treatment in court.

Diaz has taken a leave of absence, effective immediately, Chief Justice Edwin L. Pittman said in a statement. Diaz and his attorney could not be reached for comment Friday afternoon.

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and since I couldn't find much about this - I kept looking :)

http://www.thejacksonchannel.com/news/2359555/detail.html

JACKSON, Miss. -- Mississippi Supreme Court Justice Oliver Diaz Jr. and prominent Gulf Coast attorney Paul Minor were indicted Friday by a federal grand jury after a year-long corruption investigation. The investigation was launched last fall and centered on whether trial lawyers paid off bank loans for state judges in exchange for favorable treatment in court.

Diaz, of Biloxi, is a former state lawmaker once considered among the most promising up-and- coming Republicans in the state.

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[acerbic]

1. What a huge surprise!

...NOT. :-)

Diaz, of Biloxi, is a former state lawmaker once considered among the most promising up-and- coming Republicans in the state.