Firedoglake is live-blogging the Libby sentencing hearing

[WilliamPitt]

Here:

http://www.firedoglake.com/2007/06/14/sentencing-scooter-live-blog-part-i/

11:27 AM The lawyers are getting set at their tables. Blue suits rule the day, but I can’t see Fitz yet, or if he’s in his gray one. I know this is very important stuff!Court now in session. Fitz begins. Looks like blue or dark green, but I’m watching on camera and it’s a little tricky on the color.Walton: Exlpaining again his reasoning for 30 months sentence. Citing the guidelines and the concurrent service of sentences for different counts.Fitz: Says concurrent 30 month sentences are okay.

Walton: I’m told I don’t have to do concurrent sentences according to the guidelines but it seems this current ruling is appropriate.

Fitz: Agrees.

Walton: Disclosing that he has received many angry letters in response to the sentencing, wishing bad things to him and his family. He had thrown away a few, but then decided he had better begin to save them, in the event someone were to act on these threats, a record would need to remain.

...more...

[helderheid]

1. Thanks Will

[Kagemusha]

2. The other gem so far (IMHO) is Libby's lawyers saying that...

special prosecutors with an arm's length relationship to the Department of Justice are not needed or wanted because you don't really want executive branch people investigating the President and his people for any wrongdoing anyway, because that's not how presidents should properly be held accountable; that's what elections every four years are for. That's the accountability moment, and once it passes, there shouldn't be any more accountability to be had, because that would be pitting prosecutors against their bosses and that's just not done by proper gentlemen.

[tanyev]

8. Wow. Four year dicatatorships are a good thing.

Bet they wouldn't say that if it were a Democratic president.

[Robbien]

15. Proper gentlemen?

What, he didn't want to use the words rich elite?

Why are they constantly referring back to Bush. Libby is the one being sentenced for telling lies. Not georgie.

[Kagemusha]

17. Actually that's my paraphrasing, and my being sarcastically kind

And frankly, to answer your final question, people are speculating that this and the amicus brief are intended to prevent a special prosecutor from being named to look into other aspects of the Bush administration besides the Plame outing... a pre-emptive strike, if you will. (I find it hard to believe this can work because Congress clearly gave the attorney general the ability to delegate his authority, else he could not cause so much mischief by delegating hiring and firing authority to his aides, including in secret...)

[WilliamPitt]

3. Walton SLAPPING AROUND the "amicus brief"

Robbin: going back to appointments clause. Your honor has received an amicus brief.

Walton: With all due respect, these are intelligent people, but I would not accept this brief from a first year law student. I believe this was put out to put pressure on this court in the public sphere to rule as you wish. (Reggie pissed)

Robbins: These 12 schoars believe this is a close question.

Walton: If I had gotten something more of substance from them, maybe.

:)

[Kagemusha]

10. I can hear the slap from here.

As legal snark goes, that is very snarky indeed.

[Spazito]

20. I have gone from merely holding great respect for Judge Walton

to absolutely loving him, judicially speaking, lol. I thought his footnote re the "famous 12" law experts WAS the quote of the after-conviction/sentencing scene, I was mistaken. His comments on the quality of the amicus brief today, as quoted in the OP, far exceeds even that footnote!


I admire greatly those who can use appropriate snark to emphasize the facts over overblown rhetoric, it is a rare talent, imo.

[displacedtexan]

4. MSM crickets are chirping. Loudly.

It's all "Pants Suit" legal news all the time.

[Norquist Nemesis]

12. *gasp!!!* How DARE they interrupt Paris' prison updates!!

[Supersedeas]

28. don't want to mess the powdered faces with the tears shed for Libster

[sinkingfeeling]

5. Wow, you go, Judge Watson!!

Walton: With all due respect, these are intelligent people, but I would not accept this brief from a first year law student. I believe this was put out to put pressure on this court in the public sphere to rule as you wish.

[Robbien]

16. Walton is following the law, imagine that.

Nice.

These guys are use to having GOP politics rule.

[IChing]

6. thanks Will, I was hopeing for a link coming from somewhere

this morning on DU interesting dialogue there


---------------------------------------------------------------------

Robbin: going back to appointments clause. Your honor has received an amicus brief.



Walton: With all due respect, these are intelligent people, but I would not accept this brief from a first year law student. I believe this was put out to put pressure on this court in the public sphere to rule as you wish.

[symbolman]

7. Been following that

Can't blog it quick enough for me.. and MAN is Walton PimpSlapping the HELL out of the Defense..

HERE was a REALLY Interesting tete a tete:

Next point: We do not suggest Mr. Fitzgerald could not be removed. But re: Morrison, the ethics in government act required Morrison to follow DOJ policies, and one of those policies means keeping AG posted on significant events in the prosecution. The power to remove without the power to supervise is all shell and no chocolate.

***

Walton: Wouldn’t that undermine the purpose of this statute, that everyone is accountabvle under the laws of the US? If you work in the WH you still have to follow the law. If the investigative agency is linked tb the hip with n investigation, then the public cn hve no confidence tht investigation is fair and just. If we have to operate this way our system of government loses significant credibility with the average Joe on the street, who already thinks the system is unfair.

*******

Robbins: This I believe is a red herring. I don’t think anyone believes Morrison was not sufficiently independent.

*******

Walton: I recognize Weinberger had a significant job, but this case deals directly with the WH. Regarding following DOJ policy I think that’s crucial.

*******

Robbins: This includes reporting significant events. But the ultimate vehicle of accountability is that the president has to stand before the voters every four years. This is the way the Constitution provides for accountability.

*************
*************

Sounded like Walton was BAGGING on the White House, and you SEE where the Defense has to LEAP to Bush's Defense.. We have ELECTIONS so THAT is how Bush is Held Accountable. What a bunch of horseshit.

Go Walton!

Is that Robbins the NEW guy? The one who does SCOTUS cases?

[H2O Man]

9. It does not sound

as if Judge Walton is likely to make any rulings that favor Scooter Libby today.

[IChing]

11. I get the idea from the dialogue that Fitz and the Judge

are on the same page. I hope you and I are right on this.

[IChing]

19. Walton: “I’ll take 5 minutes and let you know if I will rule today or later.”

Sounds like a written ruling, I have a funny feeling about that statement.

[Uncle Joe]

13. Thanks for the thread WilliamPitt

Kicked and recommended

[Gregorian]

14. Thanks for the heads up.

You people are going down in history as the patriots. It's satisfying to be a part of this.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

18. Yup. Been Following For A While Already. FireDogLake Rocks! And Will, May I Ask What Your

thoughts are on the defense arguments so far?

[WilliamPitt]

21. Grasping.

Angling for the DC appeals court, which is notably conservative.

[displacedtexan]

22. Walton will decide today.

David Schuster just said so. Now, MSNBC has lost the damned feed, of course.

[IChing]

23. Thanks

Damn I want this bastard in jail today.

[bleever]

24. Looks like it's all coming down to the appointment clause.

If it's a matter of the defense saying that the president IS accountable under the laws because elections are his "accountability moment", it looks bad for Libby.

The president's accountability under law is distinct for his electoral prospects; to argue otherwise is to grant him a blanket four-year immunity for any and all behavior.

Looks like jail.

[bleever]

25. It's jail. nt

[Gregorian]

27. Is that the translation?

I don't speak judicial. But Walton sure didn't talk like he was saying he could walk free.

But he said "not a flight risk". God I feel dumb.



Edit- OH! So that's what "report" means. Yahoo!!!!!

[Cass]

26. Wow, so people are threatening the judge and his family!

Holy cow! I hope he and his family will be ok.