June 14, 2007
Libby's Day In Court, Again
UPDATED.
Judge Reggie Walton denied I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby's appeal today, saying the prison sentence of Vice President Dick Cheney's former chief of staff would not be delayed. Libby and his legal team are fighting to put off his 30-month sentence while he goes through the appeals process.
Libby's team has only 10 days to file the primary appeal for his perjury and obstruction convictions, although Walton said it may take several weeks before the Bureau of Prisons is ready to receive the prisoner.
A secondary appeal is also in the works -- not of the conviction itself but of today's decision, creating a new appeal on top of the initial one.
White House spokesman Tony Snow reiterated earlier today that the White House was going to let the legal process play out before weighing in on the case. Any delay in the process is largely thought to be in Libby's favor; if he rides out the clock until closer to the end of President Bush's term, it could increase Libby's chances of a presidential pardon.
Walton's actions today mark another example of the D.C. judge -- a Bush nominee with a long history in multiple Republican administrations -- not going easy on Libby. When a dozen constitutional scholars petitioned Walton on Libby's behalf, the judge replied to their letter with some caustic remarks of his own.
The Washington Post cites his footnote:
"It is an impressive show of public service when twelve prominent and distinguished current and former law professors of well-respected schools are able to amass their collective wisdom in the course of only several days to provide their legal expertise to the Court on behalf of a criminal defendant...."
"... The Court trusts that this is a reflection of these eminent academics' willingness in the future to step up to the plate and provide like assistance in cases involving any of the numerous litigants, both in this Court and throughout the courts of our nation, who lack the financial means to fully and properly articulate the merits of their legal positions."
And the sentence itself, which Walton handed down on June 5, was harsher than many legal experts predicted. Dozens of character references from other D.C. powerhouses and a formidable legal team failed to convince the judge to give Libby the lighter end of the 15 to 33 months that federal sentencing guidelines recommend.
At the beginning of today's hearing, Walton said he had been threatened as a result of the case. "I have received a number of harassing, angry and mean-spirited phone calls and messages. Some wishing bad things on me and my family," the judge said. "Those types of things will have no impact."
Posted at 1:42 PM
Posted to:
Bush Administration, I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby
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