Zach Scruggs Still On Schedule For March 31 Trial; Mike Moore Enters

US District Judge Neal Biggers on Monday entered an order based on Friday’s hearing, formally denying Zach Scruggs’ separate dismissal motion and granting 5 additional days from March 14 to amend current motions or file additional motions, but ruling that the extension “in no way affects any other deadlines previously set forth in this cause, including the change of plea deadline of March 17, 2008, or the trial date of March 31, 2008.” Zach Scruggs 3/17 Order.  The big surprise of the day was former Mississippi AG Mike Moore’s Entry of Appearance on behalf of Zach Scruggs.  Moore was a key player in Dickie Scruggs’ multi-billion dollar looting of the major tobacco companies.  A Sun-Herald story here quotes Moore as saying Zach Scruggs “asked me to represent him should his case ever get to trial.” We should know by Wednesday if that plea deadline was set in stone or if this case will proceed to trial.