Don Siegelman can't appeal his conviction!

[FourScore]

This is America?? Don Siegelman can't appeal his conviction!
Not only was he railroaded, but he can't appeal his conviction!

From Donsiegelman.org :

It has been 20 months since Siegelman’s trial ended and no trial transcript has been produced by Fuller's court. This is in violation of the rules of criminal procedure which require a transcript within 30 days of sentencing. Siegelman can't appeal his conviction with out an official trial transcript.

Attorney General Michael Mukasey has said he won't do anything until the appeal (Schumer Questions Mukasey on Siegelman Case).

Apparently, Don Siegelman will remain a political prisoner for a long long time.

Donsiegelman.org offers this link to the story about U.S. District Judge Mark Everett Fuller. Among other things,

Fuller ... is a former member of the Executive Committee of the Alabama Republican Party.

and

A total of 87* days after the first order by the Appellate Court Judge Fuller issued an order stating that the case had no grounds for appeal. That same day, Oct 4, 2007, Fuller's Company, Doss aviation was awarded an $18.1 million dollar contract from the government.

If you haven't see the 60 Minutes segment yesterday about this injustice (unfortunately broadcast at the same time as the Oscars), the clip is available on many websites. This is CBSNews: Did Ex-Alabama Governor Get A Raw Deal?
Thanks to 60 Minutes for doing this story.

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/2/25/212240/766/699/464080

[aquart]

1. Fuller needs to do long years of hard time.

Who has the power to compel the transcript?

And Mukasey can go to hell.

[Mythsaje]

2. Maybe, just maybe, some Dem President can just pardon him...

Or send in a special investigator to plum the depths of the whole case.

[Rex]

3. The JD works for Dick Cheney

They won't touch it.

[lordsummerisle]

4. This is a terrible story but one aspect of it I haven't heard is

what kind of counsel has this man been getting? Who has been representing him?? How can every decision be going against him?

[sce56]

5. Kangaroo Court the New Amurkin Justice system Brought to you by Gonzo

[shance]

6. No telling when those after Siegelman have a lot of money and those who'll accept a bribe, or

blackmail for that matter.

Who knows.

[pnwmom]

10. He has good lawyers. But the Rove-directed pursuit of him has been

absolutely relentless. When one prosecution was thrown out by the judge as baseless, they started another prosecution. When one judge was fair, they judge-shopped. While he's been in prison, he's been moved 7 times, making it difficult for both his lawyers and family members to visit him.

If you want to know how this can happen, think about what Bush has gotten away with through stonewalling. The Rethug establishment in Alabama, with the collusion of the Feds, has been stonewalling. The law requires the judge to give the defense a trial transcript within 30 days, but the law has no teeth, so the judge hasn't produced the transcript. The lawyers can't even start an appeal without a transcript.

[Blue_In_AK]

18. Do they not record trials in Alabama?

Up here all trials and hearings are recorded on CDs (the program is FTR, "For the Record") and anyone can buy a copy of the recording of any public trial. Then the CDs are contracted out by the attorneys to people like me to transcribe. I don't understand why the transcript itself has to come from the court. Do they do things so differently in Alabama?

[rhett o rick]

7. Mukasey and his lackey Chuck Schumer can go to hell. nm

[defendandprotect]

17. Why did Schumer promote Mukasey --- ??? He's corrupt ---

[rhett o rick]

22. He certainly is not a Democrat. The Democratic Senators should shun him. nm

[defendandprotect]

25. What happend to Schumer . . . was he always this bad?

[StClone]

8. Obama should Pardon Siegelman ASAP

Once in office spring him and go after 'Bama corruption with co-conspirator Rove.

[FourScore]

9. Let's hope it doesn't take that long to get Siegelmann out....

But I'm afraid it will.

[rhett o rick]

23. I don't see any other way. nm

[FourScore]

11. kick

[alfredo]

12. We should ask the candidates if they would pardon Don.

[FourScore]

13. Congress needs to investigate this. Immediately. n/t

[alfredo]

14. yes. So many crimes, so little time.

[Blue_In_AK]

15. I don't understand why a transcript can't be made available...

His lawyer can pay to have one prepared. It's what I do for a living. Legally, the court system is obligated to provide recordings of any proceedings (with a few exceptions) to anybody who can pay for it. At least, that's how it works in Alaska -- maybe it's different in Alabama. Don't they record their trials down there?

[defendandprotect]

16. This is an era even more CRIMINAL than the Nixon Era . . . IMPEACH--!!!

[fascisthunter]

19. Mukasey You Slimey Piece of Republican SHit

May a statue be erected for traitors such as yourselves.

[malaise]

20. It's time to take to the streets for Don Siegelman n/t

[lonestarnot]

26. Prison, not streets!

[lovuian]

21. No this is not the America we learn in school this is the REAL

America a dictatorship which wants everybody else to follow the laws but NOT the ELITE they can break them anytime they want

[L. Coyote]

24. K & REC & Impeach two AND Free Political Prisoners too !!!!

[OwnedByFerrets]

27. When Putin does this, its bad....when repugs do it...

it gets shuffled under the carpet and forgotten.