Dickie Scruggs Pleads Guilty To Conspiracy

By John Bresnahan

(The Politico)  In a surprised room, famed trial lawyer Richard "Dickie: Scruggs, brother-in-law of former Sen. Trent Lott (R-Miss.), pleaded guilty today to conspiracy charges related to a federal probe into his handling of a fee dispute with another lawyer.

"Scruggs and co-defendant Sidney Backstrom both pleaded guilty to conspiring to bribe a judge," the AP reported. "No plea has yet been entered by Scruggs' son, Zach.:

Scruggs, Backstrom and Zach Scruggs were indicted in November on conspiracy and wire fraud "in A dispute over $26.5 million in legal fees from a mass settlement of Hurricane Katrina case."

Lott, who is now a partner in a lobbying firm with former Sen. John Breaux (D-La.), did not have any comment on Scruggs' plea, according to an aide.