DeLay makes first court appearance as lawyer seeks new judge News
DeLay makes first court appearance as lawyer seeks new judge

[JURIST] Representative Tom DeLay (R-TX) [official profile] made his first court appearance in state criminal court in Austin Friday since his indictment earlier this month on criminal conspiracy and money laundering charges, but his arraignment has been postponed pending his lawyer's request for a new judge in the case [JURIST report; JURIST news archive]. DeLay defense lawyer Dick DeGuerin noted that Judge Bob Perkins [official profile] had donated money to MoveOn.org [advocacy site], an institutional supporter of the Democratic Party. Prosecutor Ronnie Earle [official website] called the request for a new judge "absurd." Judge Perkins noted that he last contributed to MoveOn prior to last year's November election, well before the organization focused on DeLay's trial. A hearing on whether Perkins should try the case will be held by Administrative Judge B.B. Schraub, a Republican. AP has more.

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 Topic: Tom DeLay | Op-ed: Tom DeLay's Challenge to Texas Grand Jury Process

THIS DAY @ LAW

Montgomery started racially-integrated bus service after boycott

On December 21, 1956, buses in Montgomery, Alabama, started racially integrated service following federal court rulings ending on-board segregation. Bus boycott leaders Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King and Rev. Ralph Abernathy were among the first riders under the new scheme. Learn about the Montgomery Bus Boycott.

Stalin born

On December 21, 1879, Joseph Stalin was born in Gori, Georgia. In 1922, he became leader of the USSR until his death in 1953. During his time as Soviet dictator, Stalin industrialized his country, which he then led to become one of the world's two superpowers after WWII. Through his infamous purges, show trials and nationwide famines, Stalin also became responsible for millions of deaths.