Decatur, AL – The trial of state Rep. Sue Schmitz has been delayed until next week.
Prosecutors rested their fraud case against the 63-year-old Schmitz Tuesday. Defense attorneys had begun presenting their case and were expected to continue calling witnesses at the federal court in Decatur Wednesday morning.
But as court was convening, attorneys were called into a meeting with U. S. District Judge David Proctor. After more than an hour, Proctor announced through a clerk that court was adjourned until Tuesday morning because of unexpected circumstances.
Attorneys and court officials would not immediately elaborate on the reason for the delay.
Schmitz, a Democrat from Toney, is accused of using her political influence to get a job with a program that helps troubled teenagers and then doing little work.
(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)