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TUSCUMBIA — An attorney who was indicted on a charge of attempting to bribe a juror has been suspended from practicing law, officials with the Alabama Bar Association said Thursday.

Tuscumbia attorney Billy Underwood was indicted Jan. 8 by a Colbert County grand jury. He was charged with attempting to bribe a prospective juror in a civil case.

Alex Rice, communications coordinator for the Alabama State Bar, said Thursday that Underwood has been “interimly suspended” pursuant to Rule 20 of the Alabama Rules of Disciplinary Procedure.

 

Officials said because of the suspension, Underwood’s cases are being referred to other local attorneys.

Underwood, who has practiced law for 38 years, has also relinquished his position as chairman of the Colbert County Democratic Party. He has been replaced by Tuscumbia attorney Willie Hovater.

The indictment charges Underwood with "offering, conferring or agreeing to confer any pecuniary benefit upon a juror with the intent that the juror’s vote, opinion, decision or other action as a juror will thereby be corruptly influenced in Colbert County."

The civil case in question has not been to trial and is still pending, officials said.

The Attorney General’s Criminal Trials Division presented evidence to a Colbert County grand jury after an investigation by the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency.

 

Underwood is being represented by Hovater and Birmingham attorney Bill Baxley.

Cullman County Circuit Judge Martha E. Williams has been assigned to hear the case after local judges recused themselves. A date has not been set for the case to be heard.

Underwood has been out of jail on bail of $5,000 since his arrest.

Bribery of a juror is a Class C felony, which is punishable by 1-10 years in prison, if convicted.

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I haven't heard a whole lotta rumors, but I saw an indictment,
a Class C felony charge of bribery, out of jail on bail of $5,000,
suspended from practicing law and his position as chairman of
the Colbert County Democratic Party has been replaced by
Tuscumbia attorney Willie Hovater.    
 
But no,, nothing to worry about if J. Comey handles this mystery..

I seem to recall Mr. Underwood being named an Alabama attorney of the year in some field just last year.

As for rumors, yep, I've heard the man who accused him is a disgruntled client. Doesn't this all go back to the AG wanting to "get" Mr. Underood for another case, but when he turned out to be completely innocent, Marshall dug this up?

 

Kraven posted:
I haven't heard a whole lotta rumors, but I saw an indictment,
a Class C felony charge of bribery, out of jail on bail of $5,000,
suspended from practicing law and his position as chairman of
the Colbert County Democratic Party has been replaced by
Tuscumbia attorney Willie Hovater.    
 
But no,, nothing to worry about if J. Comey handles this mystery..

Not much bail. The left loves their crooks.

Republicans: Roy Moore deserves due process
also Republicans: Underwood is a crook. (without any due process)

hy·poc·ri·sy
noun
noun: hypocrisy; plural noun: hypocrisies
  1. the practice of claiming to have moral standards or beliefs to which one's own behavior does not conform; pretense.
    synonyms:dissimulation, false virtue, cant, posturing, affectation, speciousness, empty talk, insincerity, falseness, deceit, dishonesty, mendacity, pretense, duplicity; More
    sanctimoniousness, sanctimony, pietism, piousness;
    informalphoniness, fraud
    "must politics be the perennial benchmark of hypocrisy?"
     
 
Last edited by Br’er Rabbit
antimaim posted:
Kraven posted:
Br’er Rabbit posted:

I wouldn't expect you to know too much about anything. And what's happening up in TN? Why does Colbert Co. concern you so much?

I still own land in Colbert Co.

You can comment on the actions of a chairman of the democratic party too.

So did JT and ole Best sure never let him have a minutes piece. Stay in your lane.

antimaim posted:
Kraven posted:
I haven't heard a whole lotta rumors, but I saw an indictment,
a Class C felony charge of bribery, out of jail on bail of $5,000,
suspended from practicing law and his position as chairman of
the Colbert County Democratic Party has been replaced by
Tuscumbia attorney Willie Hovater.    
 
But no,, nothing to worry about if J. Comey handles this mystery..

Not much bail. The left loves their crooks.

Does seem like there should be harsher penalties.

giftedamateur posted:
antimaim posted:
Kraven posted:
I haven't heard a whole lotta rumors, but I saw an indictment,
a Class C felony charge of bribery, out of jail on bail of $5,000,
suspended from practicing law and his position as chairman of
the Colbert County Democratic Party has been replaced by
Tuscumbia attorney Willie Hovater.    
 
But no,, nothing to worry about if J. Comey handles this mystery..

Not much bail. The left loves their crooks.

Does seem like there should be harsher penalties.

Class B and A felonies usually involve theft or violence. Not the case here even if Underwood were guilty, which most people believe he's not.

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