Court Upholds Mississippi Attorney Scruggs’ Corruption Conviction

A federal appeals court panel has upheld the conviction of Richard “Dickie” Scruggs, one of Mississippi’s most prominent attorneys before going to prison on judicial corruption charges.

A three-judge panel of the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld Scruggs’ conviction Friday.

Scruggs pleaded guilty in 2009 to improperly influencing then Hinds County Circuit Judge Bobby DeLaughter in a civil lawsuit. At the time of the guilty plea, Scruggs was serving a five-year sentence on charges from another judicial corruption case.

Scruggs has been free on $2 million bond pending the appeal.

Prosecutors say Scruggs told DeLaughter that he would recommend DeLaughter to his brother-in-law, retired Sen. Trent Lott, for an appointment to the federal bench.

DeLaughter pleaded guilty in 2009 to obstruction of justice. He’s out of prison.