Legal Schnauzer: Tell Us Again - Why Is Don Siegelman Still in Prison?

http://legalschnauzer.blogspot.com/2008/03/on-siegelman-exxon-religion-and-such.html

Wednesday, March 26, 2008
On Siegelman, Exxon, Religion, and Such
Tell us again: Why is Don Siegelman still in prison?

We receive word today that the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals has issued deadlines for briefs in the appeal of former Alabama Governor Don Siegelman and former HealthSouth CEO Richard Scrushy.

The bottom line: Oral arguments are not likely to be heard until late 2008, at the earliest. And God only knows when a ruling might come.

Siegelman and Scrushy already have served nine months in federal prison, and it looks like they are facing a minimum of another 11 months. That's at least 20 months in prison for crimes that they almost certainly did not commit.

Heck of a justice system, isn't it?

Here's an even more galling point to ponder: The 11th Circuit required trial judge Mark Fuller to justify in writing his decision for denying Siegelman bond pending appeal. We showed here that Fuller did not even come close to meeting his burden under the law. The facts are simple: By the trial judge's own words, Don Siegelman must be freed pending appeal. But he is looking at probably another 11 months in prison while the 11th Circuit does nothing about Fuller's remarkably weak memorandum opinion.

Here's a question: Why did the 11th Circuit ask Fuller to write the opinion if they weren't going to act on it?

What message is the 11th Circuit sending? Better to wrongfully keep Siegelman in prison for at least 11 more months than to embarrass a federal judge.

I ask because I don't understand why oral arguments won't be heard until late 08?

And I don't know. Maybe someone else can chime in. I don't know where Roger is getting his figure from.

That's why Siegelman is in prison. Siegelman had made it apparent what his strategy was going to be in 2006, he was going to run to the right of Riley on taxes, and to the left of him on providing state programs, via expansion of gambling which Riley opposes.

Until Katrina (which he did perform admirably in), he had an approval rating in the low 30s, I remember it being in the 20s at some point. There was also the Roy Moore thing, which would have thrown the gubernatorial election to whoever the Democrat was. They targeted him. They deliberately steered the case to a judge that they knew would prosecute in an area which was most likely to be hostile to him.

I should also point out that Siegelman actually won the election in 2002. 7000 votes mysteriously disappeared on election night, more than the margin of victory. Riley had a real question of legitimacy and Siegelman was ready to exploit that. There is not a doubt in my mind that he would have taken back the mansion if not for the prosecution

:toast:

he is such a threat to society.:sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: