Scruggs Sought Trent Lott's Influence

Powerful plaintiffs attorney Richard "Dickie" Scruggs tried to use his brother-in-law, former U.S. Sen. Trent Lott, to influence the ruling of a sitting Mississippi judge, a government witness testified Wednesday in federal court. He also testified that in another case a judge, and not Scruggs, first floated the idea of a $40,000 bribe.

The testimony about Lott came during a hearing in a federal case in which Scruggs, his son Zach, and law partner Sidney Backstrom are charged with trying to bribe Circuit Judge Henry Lackey to get a favorable ruling in a dispute over $26.5 million in legal fees.

Lott is not charged with any wrongdoing. U.S. District Judge Neal Biggers Jr. refused Wednesday to dismiss the charges against Scruggs and others in the alleged bribery attempt involving Lackey. The hearing was scheduled to continue today. A trial is scheduled to start March 31.