[JURIST] Representative Tom DeLay (R-TX) [official profile] made his first court appearance in state criminal court in Austin Friday since his indictment earlier this month on criminal conspiracy and money laundering charges, but his arraignment has been postponed pending his lawyer's request for a new judge in the case [JURIST report; JURIST news archive]. DeLay defense lawyer Dick DeGuerin noted that Judge Bob Perkins [official profile] had donated money to MoveOn.org [advocacy site], an institutional supporter of the Democratic Party. Prosecutor Ronnie Earle [official website] called the request for a new judge "absurd." Judge Perkins noted that he last contributed to MoveOn prior to last year's November election, well before the organization focused on DeLay's trial. A hearing on whether Perkins should try the case will be held by Administrative Judge B.B. Schraub, a Republican. AP has more.

ALSO ON JURIST  Topic: Tom DeLay | Op-ed: Tom DeLay's Challenge to Texas Grand Jury Process