Scruggs contempt case reassigned to Fla. judge

The Clarion-Ledger, 12/13/7

The criminal contempt case of Mississippi trial lawyer Richard Scruggs was reassigned to a Florida judge Wednesday because 16 federal judges in north Alabama recused themselves.

C. Roger Vinson, Northern District of Florida, will preside in the case in which Scruggs is accused of disobeying an order by failing to turn over Katrina-related insurance documents to a court.

The 16 district judges and magistrate judges in north Alabama agreed to recuse themselves last month at the request of Scruggs. His lawyers contend none of them should hear the case since they are colleagues of U.S. District Judge William Acker, who initiated the criminal contempt prosecution.