[JURIST] US District Judge Ralph Tyson released a ruling Friday indicating he will not overturn the conviction of ex-Governor Edwin Edwards. After serving four terms as Louisiana's Governor from 1972-96, Edwards was convicted in 2000 for extorting payoffs from businessmen seeking riverboat casino licenses. The rejected defense motion claimed a political bias on the part of the trial judge and additionally contended that he was impaired by painkillers as he presided over the trial. Tyson ruled that the defense "failed to point to any facts that raise a bona fide doubt as to the mental or physical competency of the trial judge." Edwards, now 76 years old, is currently serving ten years for his conviction. AP has more.