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October 25, 2005
Longtime Texas Democrat to decide DeLay recusal motion
A retired Central Texas judge with a reputation as a non-political mediator will decide who presides over former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay's criminal case.
Bell County Senior Judge C.W. Duncan, 81-year-old was
selected to consider DeLay's request that state district Judge Bob
Perkins not oversee his trial on conspiracy and money laundering
charges.
Perkins has contributed money to several Democratic candidates
and organizations, including 2004 presidential candidate John Kerry
and MoveOn.org, a liberal interest group waging a "Fire Tom
DeLay" campaign through radio ads.
DeLay is accused of masterminding a political fund-raising scheme that helped put more Republicans in the Texas Legislature and Congress. He contends Perkins is too much of a Democrat to give
him a fair trial.
Duncan, also a Democrat, set a November 1st hearing in Austin to listen to arguments before deciding on DeLay's motion.
Friends and colleagues say Duncan is low-key about his politics.
Posted by Cay Dickson at October 25, 2005 8:07 PM