Documents opened in Scruggs case, including Lott’s deposition

OXFORD — A federal judge has unsealed court records related to one of Mississippi most notorious judicial corruption cases, including a deposition by former U.S. Sen. Trent Lott of Mississippi.

Lott was never charged with wrongdoing in the case that toppled his brother-in-law, Dickie Scruggs, among Mississippi’s most powerful lawyers before going to prison.

Scruggs wants the documents opened in hopes of overturning his conviction for improperly influencing then-Hinds County Circuit Judge Bobby DeLaughter. Scruggs’ associates allegedly promised DeLaughter that Lott could help him become a federal judge.

Lott’s deposition from October 2008 said he had no knowledge of any such scheme and that DeLaughter had no chance of becoming a federal judge, though he called DeLaughter as a “courtesy.”

DeLaughter was convicted in 2009 for lying to the FBI during its investigation.