Judge Acker Finds Scruggs, Rigsbys In Contempt In Renfroe Civil Case

In February, US District Judge Roger Vinson dismissed with prejudice the US v. Scruggs Northen District of Alabama case in which Dickie Scruggs was being prosecuted for criminal contempt of court (earlier). While Judge Vinson clearly did not believe Scruggs,he ruled that Scruggs was not criminally responsible.

US District Judge William Acker is clearly peeved by that ruling and more than peeved at Scruggs and the Rigsby sisters. On Thursday, he found Scruggs and the Rigsbys in civil contempt in the case and ordered them to pay $65,000 in attorney fees to E. A. Renfroe within 30 days. His order makes it clear that proceedings will not be stayed unless the Eleventh Circuit orders it. But that’s the tame part. His memorandum is a withering and intemperate attack on Scruggs, the Rigsbys and Mississippi AG Jim Hood. Some examples: what Scruggs did is called “too cute by half.” Hood is called a so-called ‘law enforcement official’.” “Scruggs and the Rigsbys were as ‘joined-at-the-hip’ as any set of Siamese twins.”

While all that may well be true, it’s shocking to see it officially expressed that way. It almost seems like an attack deliberately timed to embarrass Scruggs three weeks ahead of his sentencing. Judge Acker has let his anger get the best of him.