By Associated Press
Montgomery, AL – A federal appeals court on Wednesday asked former Alabama Governor Don Siegelman's trial judge to elaborate on why he refused to let Siegleman remain free while his conviction in a bribery and corruption case is appealed.
U.S. 11th Circuit Court of Appeals Judges Susan Black and Stanley Marcus said the explanation given last month by U.S. District Judge Mark Fuller was not sufficient.
The appellate judges said their review has shown that the Siegelman case is complex.
Fuller had ordered Siegelman and Scrushy jailed immediately at the end of their sentencing hearing in June. They had been convicted a year earlier on bribery and other federal charges.
Last month, Black and Marcus asked Fuller to give a written ruling explaining why he refused to release Siegelman and Scrushy on appeal bond. Fuller responded by saying in part there was not a substantial likelihood that their convictions would be reversed.
On Wednesday, Black and Marcus sent Siegelman's plea for appeal bond back to Fuller, seeking more information.
(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)