The Dickie Scruggs Tapes
The Wall Street Journal
March 5, 2008
Editorial
Federal prosecutors are rolling out their bribery evidence against tort baron Dickie Scruggs, and the drama includes wiretaps, secret meetings and code words. But the most intriguing news may be that Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood is now looming larger in the case. Mr. Scruggs, his son Zach, and law partner Sid Backstrom are accused of bribing a state judge. The government has now released files in response to Mr. Scruggs's demand that federal Judge Neal Biggers dismiss the case. Judge Biggers took one look at the evidence and told Mr. Scruggs to get ready for trial.
At issue is a dispute that state Judge Henry Lackey was overseeing between Mr. Scruggs and a rival firm over $26 million in fees. Lawyer Timothy Balducci (who has pleaded guilty) has testified that Dickie Scruggs dispatched him to convince Judge Lackey to rule in a way that was favorable to the Scruggs Law Firm. Judge Lackey felt a bribe had been implied and began working with federal agents. Balducci began wearing a wire for the feds. According to FBI notes released by the defense, Balducci says he agreed to visit Judge Lackey because he was involved in a separate Scruggs plot to influence Mr. Hood.
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Mr. Hood's close ties to these characters nonetheless raise questions about his prosecutorial judgment on issues that go well beyond State Farm. The AG was asked recently why his office wasn't prosecuting the alleged bribers (including lawyer Joey Langston, who has pleaded guilty in a separate bribery case). He admitted that his connections to the accused meant that going after them would be "like prosecuting a relative." Those ties include lucrative contracts that he's awarded to those lawyers, who in turn have lavished him with campaign donations.
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