The recent guilty plea by U.S. Representative Randy Cunningham, R-Calif., follows numerous other high-profile investigations involving money and politics. Most such matters will be handled in federal court, but some, involving governors and even members of Congress, will land in state court. As the case of former U.S. House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, R-Texas, illustrates, money and politics don’t mix when it comes to our judicial system, either.
DeLay’s case is currently before San Antonio District Judge Pat Priest, who is the fifth judge to inherit the case. It began before Austin District Judge Bob Perkins. But DeLay’s lawyers successfully challenged Perkins’ impartiality because of past contributions to Democratic causes and candidates. Retired judge B.B. Schraub stepped in to select a successor. But the Democratic prosecutor challenged him because of his contributions to Republican causes and candidates. The case then went to Texas Chief Justice Wallace Jefferson. However, the prosecutor questioned his involvement, too, because of Republican ties, causing Jefferson to pass the case to Priest.