[JURIST] The judge who will sentence Jack Abramoff [JURIST news archive] has refused a joint motion by the defense and prosecution to delay for months the hearing that will determine the former Republican lobbyist's prison term. Although US District Judge Paul C. Huck [official profile] did agree to push back the sentencing two weeks, from March 16 to March 29, he declined the up-to-90-day stay the attorneys had asked for. The postponement was sought to avoid jeopardizing a federal corruption investigation - which Abramoff, as part of his plea bargain [JURIST report], has agreed to assist - involving Congress and the Bush administration. Attorney Abbe Lowell, counsel for Abramoff and co-defendant Adam Kidan, said that his clients would "name names" which, he insisted, would not be a "good thing for law enforcement." But Judge Huck rejected that argument, saying he did not want sentencing to go "on and on and on."

Under his plea agreement [PDF], Abramoff faces a maximum of seven years in prison, to be reduced depending on the quality of information he provides to investigators, for his role in fabricating a $147.5 million fraudulent wire transfer in 2000. AP has more.