Greenwood lawyer Hiram Eastland Jr. is now the lead attorney for former state Auditor Steve Patterson, one of five people indicted Nov. 28 on judicial bribery charges.
Those indicted also include wealthy trial lawyer Richard “Dickie” Scruggs. They are accused of trying to pay a state judge $40,000 for a favorable ruling in a dispute over attorneys' fees.
One of the five, Timothy Balducci, pleaded guilty to conspiracy and is helping investigators. The others indicted are Scruggs' son and law partner, Zach Scruggs, and attorney Sidney A. Backstrom.
Eastland replaced Kenneth A. Coghlan of Oxford last week as lead attorney for Patterson.
“From what I have seen and heard so far in my involvement in this case, I am very encouraged,” Eastland said Monday. “I do not believe that Mr. Patterson in any way aspired to commit bribery. I am very confident that he will be exonerated through these proceedings.”
Eastland said a joint defense motion seeking a continuance was filed Monday.
“That's not a huge surprise to anyone, in light of the fact that we are still waiting for the government to share some of the material from its investigation,” Eastland said. “We haven't had a chance to analyze everything that they've got. I think it's a very reasonable request.”
Eastland added that the government has cooperated in every way with the defense.
U.S. District Judge Neal Biggers has set a Jan. 22 trial date in Oxford.
Eastland will be assisted by his two sons, Hiram Eastland III and Jacob Eastland, and his daughter-in-law, Vickie Eastland.
He has known Patterson, both professionally and personally, for many years, he said.
“I guess you could say we're very personal friends,” he said, adding that Patterson is the godfather to his first grandchild.
Eastland is also the lead attorney for a defense team seeking to overturn Alabama Gov. Don Siegelman's conviction last year of bribery and other charges in a government corruption case.
The CBS show “60 Minutes” interviewed Eastland recently as part of a planned piece about Siegelman.
