Ruling could aid Minor case

[merh]

Source: The Clarion-Ledger

July 12, 2009
Ruling could aid Minor case
Double jeopardy could factor into ex-lawyer's appeal

Jimmie E. Gates
[e-mail]

A recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling could help former Gulf Coast lawyer Paul Minor in his effort to overturn his bribery conviction.

Last week, the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals agreed to allow Minor and two former judges to file court briefs addressing points the Supreme Court made in a possible double-jeopardy case that has some similarities to the Minor case.

In both the Minor case and the one that was the subject of a Supreme Court ruling, the defendant was retried on charges in which the jury could not reach a verdict. The key is whether the charges on which jurors couldn't reach reach a verdict are based on the same essential facts as the charges on which they were acquitted.

"We are very encouraged and gratified," said Hiram Eastland Jr., one of Minor's attorneys on his appeal. "It's very unusual for the court to ask for a supplemental brief."

Read more: http://www.clarionledger.com/article/20090712/NEWS/907120345/1001/news/Ruling-could-aid-Minor-case#pluckcomments

---

Apparently, Holder has said that his office will review the Minor case.

Eastland said Attorney General Eric Holder has said his office will review Minor's case.

[merh]

1. Why should the DOJ pay attention when

informed democrats don't seem to care?