We’re in a race at the federal courthouse in Oxford to see who has written letters about Dickie Scruggs before he is sentenced Friday for conspiring to bribe a state court judge.
Three journalists and a lawyer-blogger are here. We are playing nice, sharing information as we scan the bound volumes, looking for big names.
No letter from Trent Lott, but we have found complimentary correspondence from Lowell Bergman of 60 Minutes fame, who worked with Scruggs during the tobacco wars. Former Mississippi Gov. William Winter wrote, as did University of Mississippi president Robert Khayat.
Khayat, who met Scruggs as a teen-ager, says: “Throughout his adult life, he has been a model citizen . . .”
“It is my belief that any time he spends being incarcerated is an absolute waste of a great deal of talent and ability.”
Bergman extols Scruggs’ protection of whistleblowers: "I observed Mr. Scruggs demonstrate a humanity and largesse that frankly is rare in a profession that has become known for rapacious conduct."
We are liable to be here all day. There are 481 letters in the Scruggs file alone.
We have two other defendants, his former law office members Sidney Backstrom and his son, Zach Scruggs.
Many Coast lawyers have written.
Headed back upstairs to read more and get it out to you here at sunherald.com
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