Friend of John Grisham, brother-in-law of Trent Lott, kajillionaire lawyer for the sick and hurting.  Richard "Dickie" Scruggs pleaded guilty today to conspiring to bribe a state court judge.  He faces up to a five-year stretch in a federal corrections facility, a $250,000 fine, and probable disbarment.  Stories here, here, here, and here.

Very ugly stuff.  The only bright spot that Blawgletter can see for the trial bar?  That Scruggs’s lawyer son, Zachary, didn’t plead guilty, too.  We hope it’s because his dad was at least a good enough father not to have corrupted his son, too.  If not, Dickie deserves a lot more than five years.