JURIST - Paper Chase: DeLay to get new judge in Texas criminal case

[JURIST] Texas Judge C.W. Duncan ruled Monday afternoon that Rep. Tom DeLay [official website; JURIST news archive] will get a new judge to preside over his trial on money laundering and criminal conspiracy charges [JURIST report]. In granting DeLay's recusal motion [JURIST report], Duncan said that Judge Bob Perkins should be replaced because of his donations to Democratic candidates and causes. Travis County District Attorney Ronnie Earle [official website] has said that Perkins should not be required to recuse himself [Houston Chronicle report] or be disqualified merely for exercising his constitutional right to make political contributions, but DeLay's attorney on Monday argued that Perkins should be removed [AP report] to "protect the integrity" of the judicial system because his campaign donations to democratic groups create an "appearance of bias." AP has more.

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