William Jefferson D-La attorneys oppose witness in corruption trial (retired judge would sway jury)

NOLA ^ | 12/12/07 | Bill Walsh

[Libloather]

Jefferson attorneys oppose witness in corruption trial
Retired judge would sway jury, they say
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
By Bill Walsh

WASHINGTON -- Attorneys for Rep. William Jefferson, D-New Orleans, are trying to block a former Democratic congressman who also served as a judge from testifying at Jefferson's public corruption trial.

The defense team filed papers in federal court Tuesday seeking to keep Abner Mikva off the witness stand, saying his service as an appellate court judge would unduly influence the jury.

"The government refers to him as " 'Judge Mikva' no less than six times," attorney Robert Trout protested in legal papers referring to the Department of Justice's witness list.

**SNIP**

Defense attorneys argued Tuesday that Mikva wouldn't be asked to offer expert testimony so much as a legal opinion, which courts have forbidden. They also asserted that he would likely discuss legislative process, which is constitutionally protected.

Mikva, who represented a Chicago district in the House for eight years in the 1970s, was offered as an expert on the inner workings of Congress. But it was his appointment to the federal bench that was a red flag for the defense. He was nominated by President Jimmy Carter in 1979 to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia where he served until his retirement in 1994.

The technical meaning of the bribery statute was the subject of a hearing this fall as part of the Jefferson case. Both sides are waiting for a ruling from Judge Thomas Ellis III. If Jefferson prevails, the government's case would be dealt a serious blow. No matter the ruling, the losing side is expected to appeal.

The nine-term congressman is scheduled to go on trial Jan. 16 in U.S. District Court in Alexandria, Va.

[Libloather]

The technical meaning of the bribery statute was the subject of a hearing this fall as part of the Jefferson case.

Billy Jeff says he was acting as a private businessman and his actions don't rise to the level of bribery because they didn't include "officials acts" as a member of Congress.

All depends on the meaning of the word 'bribe'.

Bring on da judge!

[irv]

The defense team filed papers in federal court Tuesday seeking to keep Abner Mikva off the witness stand, saying his service as an appellate court judge would unduly influence the jury.

That's hilarious. Translation: Having credible witnesses is unfair!

[Eric in the Ozarks]

No matter. He’ll be reelected.

[NTHockey]

Abner Mikva - that old anti-gun nut is still alive? I remember him and his crusade against the 2nd Amendment that got him his judgeship. He is a rabid ant-2nd Amendment and I would be leery of him as a government witness. He might just sabotage the government’s case to protect a fellow RAT.

[conservativecajun]

Let’s hope not.

I just love it when my home state finally gets national recognition, and it’s in this form...

At least our populous finally was smart enough to elect Bobby Jindal as our next Governor, though it took a wake-up call from 4 years of stupidity by Queen Blanco.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Jindal is a breath of fresh air, for sure. Keep an eye on this guy. He could make y’all proud.

[1COUNTER-MORTER-68]

Let’s hope not.

I just love it when my home state finally gets national recognition, and it’s in this form...

At least our populous finally was smart enough to elect Bobby Jindal as our next Governor, though it took a wake-up call from 4 years of stupidity by Queen Blanco.
~~~
He’s Toast,,,

Bobby will start the clean-up in Jan. with the

special session,,,BWAhahahaha,,,Let The Good Times Roll !!

Katrina Mary is next,,,;0)

[johnthebaptistmoore]

Is your last sentence also a foreshadowing of things to come politically at the federal level throughout the U.S.?

[conservativecajun]

Let’s hope not. That would mean Blanco would have to be President for 4 years before the country wakes up.

Yikes!!

[johnthebaptistmoore]

I meant that Hillary Clinton would become “Queen Blanco” in the White House with a very socialistic U.S. and with “Blanco” meaning “politically clueless”. The U.S. will truly be in such a “mess” with a President Hillary Clinton (or with any other Democratic President along with a illegal Co-President Bill Clinton) and a continued Congressional majority of Democrats! What are conservatives throughout the U.S. supposed to do next if this “worse case scenario” truly happens very soon? Illegal immigrants would soon be allowed to vote in all future U.S. elections, thanks to Democratic legislation which will make this so, and conservatives truly won’t be able to match such numbers of new voters for the “political left”! The ‘08 elections are way too important, and they will truly decide whether or not the majority of voters truly want the U.S. to continue to be a capitalistic country or to soon become a very socialistic country for the long-term.