Federal District Court Judge Glen H. Davidson has granted a motion for continuance to suspended Hinds County Judge Bobby DeLaughter. The trial, originally scheduled to begin April 6, is now set for Aug. 17, 2009.

DeLaughter is facing five counts for his role in the corruption and bribery scandal involving millionaire attorney Dickie Scruggs and former Hinds County District Attorney Ed Peters, who is DeLaughter's former boss. The indictments against DeLaughter include conspiracy to defraud the U.S. and witness tampering, in addition to three counts of mail fraud.

Defense attorneys filed a motion for a continuance to allow sufficient time to prepare DeLaughter's defense. DeLaughter replaced Madison attorney Cynthia Speetjens earlier this month with Thomas Anthony Durkin from Chicago.

See the Jackson Free Press story about the DeLaughter indictments. Scruggs is serving a five year sentence, and two other attorneys, Joey Langston and Timothy Balducci, pled guilty to paying Peters $1 million to influence DeLaughter.