A retired Texas judge was appointed Monday to decide if state district Judge Bob Perkins should continue presiding over former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay's trial on money laundering and conspiracy charges.
C. W. Duncan, a former state district judge, will hold a hearing Nov. 1 on DeLay's request that Perkins leave the case because he has contributed money to candidates and Democratic causes that oppose DeLay.
This is an obvious publicity play. DeLay's lawyer has to know that there is no chance of this being approved, but DeLay backers will pick this up to point to the court being biased against him. I'm surprised that this is being given as much consideration as it is, but I guess Perkins is following the 'leave them no grounds to appeal' principle rather then just laughing at him.
Jay