Edwards’ second trial postponed to Sept. 18

Janet McConnaughey

Wednesday, July 12, 2000 | 5:21 a.m.

NEW ORLEANS - The federal judge assigned to hear former Gov. Edwin Edwards' trial on insurance fraud charges has postponed the trial until Sept. 18.

"The court expects the trial to take three to four weeks, and jury selection about two days," U.S. Attorney Eddie Jordan said after a closed-door conference with defense attorneys and U.S. District Judge Edith Brown Clement.

Jury selection for Edwards' first trial this year took six days.

Edwards, who is his own attorney for this case, was the only defendant present.

"The old saw is that a lawyer who represents himself has a fool for a client. But that depends on who the other lawyer is," he said.

During the two-hour meeting, Edwards' wife, Candy, walked their dog in Lafayette Park, a square across the street from the courthouse. Edwards' son Stephen also waited in the park.

Edwards, Insurance Commissioner Jim Brown, Shreveport attorney Ronald Weems and David Disiere have pleaded innocent to setting up a sweetheart liquidation deal for Disiere's insolvent Cascade Insurance Co. Prosecutors say the state should have received much more than the $2.5 million it got.

Edwards described the conference as very cordial. "I thought there was a real sense of cooperation," he said.

The main reason for the postponement was a conflict with the judge's schedule, he said.

"I'm ready. I don't know if I'm able. But I'm all the lawyer I can afford after the last trial," he said.

Edwards, Stephen Edwards and three other men were convicted May 9 of fixing casino licenses.

Neither Edwards nor Jordan would comment on their plans for this case because of a gag order imposed by U.S. District Judge Frank Polozola, who presided over the earlier trial.

Besides, Edwards said, that would give away part of his defense. Pressed for an answer, he said, "Let me get away from tempting me to violate the gag order."

News reporters asked for permission Tuesday to intervene in the government's prosecution so they can look at sealed and other secret documents filed in the case.

The media also asked Clement for a quick hearing before the trial.

"This trial is a matter of legitimate and substantial public interest because it involves allegations of criminal wrongdoing by present and former Louisiana officials in connection with the conduct of official state business," the media said in its petition to intervene.

The petition was filed on behalf of The Times-Picayune Publishing Corp. of New Orleans, The Associated Press, Capital City Press Inc. of Baton Rouge, Gannett River States Publishing Inc., New Orleans stations WDSU-TV, WWL-TV and WVUE-TV, and the Louisiana Press Association.

The petition also questioned why the court reportedly has been asked to keep secret the identities of jurors who will hear the case.

In response to a query after Wednesday's conference about whether Clement had ruled on any motions in the case, the judge replied through a secretary only that she was preparing a note for the docket.