The Pork Barrel World of Judge Mark Fuller
>
>BY
>Scott Horton
>PUBLISHED
>August 6, 2007
>
>For the last week, we’ve been examining the role played by
>Judge Mark Everett Fuller in the trial, conviction, and
>sentencing of former Alabama Governor Don E. Siegelman. Today,
>we examine a post-trial motion, filed in April 2007, asking
>Fuller to recuse himself based on his extensive private
>business interests, which turn very heavily on contracts with
>the United States Government, including the Department of
>Justice.
>
>The recusal motion rested upon details about Fuller’s personal
>business interests. On February 22, 2007, defense attorneys
>obtained information that Judge Fuller held a controlling
>43.75% interest in government contractor Doss Aviation, Inc.
>After investigating these claims for over a month, the
>attorneys filed a motion for Fuller’s recusal on April 18,
>2007. The motion stated that Fuller’s total stake in Doss
>Aviation was worth between $1-5 million, and that Fuller’s
>income from his stock for 2004 was between $100,001 and $1
>million dollars.
>
>In other words, Judge Fuller likely made more from his
>business income, derived from U.S. Government contracts, than
>as a judge. Fuller is shown on one filing as President of the
>principal business, Doss Aviation, and his address is shown as
>One Church Street, Montgomery, Alabama, the address of the
>Frank M. Johnson Federal Courthouse, in which his chambers are
>located.
>?Annual report details, Doss Aviation, 2002
>
>Doss Aviation, Inc. (motto: “Total Quality Service Isn’t
>Expensive, It’s Priceless”) and its subsidiary, Aureus
>International, hold contracts with a number of government
>agencies. Quoting from defense counsel’s motion for recusal
>(emphasis in the original):
>
>Doss Aviation, Inc. has been awarded numerous federal military
>contracts from the United States government worth over
>$258,000,000, including but not limited to: An August 2002
>contract with the Air Force for $30,474,875 for Helicopter
>Maintenance, a November 2003 contract with the Navy for
>$5,190,960 for aircraft refueling, a February 2006 contract
>with the Air Force for over $178,000,000 for training pilots
>and navigators, and a March 2006 contract with the Air Force
>for $4,990,541.28 for training at the United States Air Force
>Academy. The February 2006 contract with the Air Force for
>over $178,000,000 is for 10 ½ years, but is renewable from
>year to year . . .
>
>-snip
>
http://www.harpers.org/archive/2007/08/hbc-90000762EVERYONE INTERESTED IN THE GOV SIEGELMAN CASE SHOULD READ THIS EXCELLENT PIECE BY SCOTT HORTON ON THE JUDGE WHO OVERSAE THE CASE!