US Supreme Court rejects Miss. corruption case
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The Supreme Court has declined appeals of corruption convictions from a prominent Mississippi lawyer and two former state judges.
The justices on Monday let stand without comment a ruling by a federal appeals court that upheld most convictions of the lawyer, Paul Minor, and the judges, John Whitfield and Wes Teel. The men were convicted for their roles in a complicated scheme involving loans for the judges and allegedly favorable rulings in civil cases involving Minor.
Prosecutors said Minor orchestrated a complicated scheme in which he guaranteed loans for the judges, then used cash and third parties to pay off the loans. They allegedly ruled in his favor in civil cases.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Before being indicted, Minor was considered among the top personal injury lawyers in Mississippi, amassing a fortune by suing tobacco, asbestos and other companies. He has long said he was the target of a political prosecution by the Justice Department under President George W. Bush.
The cases are Minor v. U.S., 09-1422, Teel v. U.S., 09-11039, and Whitfield v. U.S., 09-11067.