LAWYERS ARGUE POLITICAL BIAS IN DELAY JUDGES

The Texas Chief Justice's appointment of Senior Judge Pat Priest of San Antonio in the Tom DeLay case will stand.

Texas Supreme Court Chief Justice Wallace Jefferson rejected prosecutors' attempts to have him removed from the criminal case of U.S. Rep. Tom DeLay and said his appointment of a new trial judge will stand.

On Friday, Jefferson turned down Travis County District Attorney Ronnie Earle's request that he remove himself from the case because he was heavily involved with a DeLay-founded political committee in the 2002 elections.

Jefferson said he did not have to recuse himself because his appointment of Senior Judge Pat Priest of San Antonio was a "purely administrative function."

Tags: Tom DeLay, Ronnie Earle