Appeal Set for Convicted Lawyer Minor

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Source: The Clairon-Ledger (Mississippi)

Appeal set for convicted lawyer Minor

BY JERRY MITCHELL • [e-mail] • JANUARY 30, 2009

The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has scheduled arguments involving longtime trial lawyer Paul Minor, now imprisoned.

"We're really gratified the 5th Circuit has set it for the week of March 30," said one of Minor’s attorneys, Hiram Eastland Jr. of Greenwood.

In 2007, a federal jury in Mississippi convicted Minor and two former judges on corruption charges for helping guarantee or pay off campaign loans of the judges who heard some of Minor's cases. That verdict came two years after a jury deadlocked on some counts in the same case while acquitting then state Supreme Court Justice Oliver Diaz Jr. of all charges. U.S. District Judge Henry Wingate of Jackson sentenced Minor to 11 years in prison and would not release him on appeal.

Eastland said lawyers plan to argue Minor was convicted on "bribery type charges without any proof of a quid pro quo for the campaign loan guarantees provided by Mr. Minor. The conviction runs contrary to all Supreme Court case precedence in this area of the law, and we look forward to successfully resolving this issue with the court."

Minor could get help from a similar appeal by one-time Alabama Gov. Don Siegelman, now free on bond after being convicted in 2006 of trading contributions for political favors

Read more: http://www.clarionledger.com/article/20090130/NEWS/90130014/-1/frontpagetabmodule-1V

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From Larisa Alexandrovna: "Let's hope Sylvia Minor stays alive to make it to March 30, and that Karl Rove's former client, Judge Own, will recuse herself."

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1. Political prisoner. Governor Siegelman is still a political prisoner. n/t