By Associated Press
Washington, DC – The U-S Supreme Court cleared the way today for Federal Judge U-W Clemon to be removed from the retrial of a Tuscaloosa doctor on fraud charges involving medical care for poor pregnant women. Doctor Phillip Bobo had asked the nation's highest court to block the removal of Clemon from his retrial. Bobo argued in court documents that Atlanta-based 11th U-S Circuit Court of Appeals exceeded its authority in June when it barred Clemon from hearing the planned retrial. The Supreme Court denied Bobo's request. Bobo was convicted in 2003 of charges related to an alleged Medicaid fraud involving maternity care contracts covering poor Alabama women. An appeals court ruled the indictment was inadequate and overturned the conviction. That led to a new indictment in 2004, and Bobo is still awaiting retrial. No date has been set.