JURIST - Paper Chase: DeLay 'disappointed' in justice system after Texas ballot ruling

[JURIST] Former US House Majority Leader Tom DeLay [JURIST news archive] expressed disappointment Thursday in recent court decisions preventing the Texas Republican Party from removing his name as a congressional candidate in the November elections, saying that he was "very disappointed in our justice system." DeLay was forced to withdraw his name from the Texas ballot [statement; JURIST report] after US Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia denied a request [JURIST reports] from the Texas Republican Party to stay a federal appeals court ruling [text, PDF] preventing the party from replacing DeLay with another GOP candidate. The US Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit [official website] ruled earlier this month that the Texas GOP could not simply replace DeLay's name on the ballot because DeLay, who now resides in Virginia, could return to Texas before election day. Republicans are not able to name a candidate to replace DeLay after he withdrew, and are instead relying on write-in candidates.

DeLay told a Texas television station that "there doesn't seem to be justice" and that GOP efforts to replace him on the Texas ballot were not "bungled" but were in line with legal requirements. DeLay resigned from Congress [JURIST report] earlier this year after winning a March primary for his congressional seat. He is awaiting a Texas trial on money laundering and conspiracy charges [JURIST report] for allegedly using corporate money to fund legislative campaigns. AP has more.

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