February 11, 2008

Trial Lawyers Still Love Briley

THe Nashville City Paper combs through the latest campaign finance disclosure of state Rep Rob Briley and finds something interesting: While the Tennessee Trial Lawyers Association dumped their chief legislative lobbyist after it was revealed that she was having an affair with Briley, a Nashville Democrat, while he was chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, Briley is still their boy, politically speaking.

The trial lawyers' PAC, Lawyers Involved for Tennessee, gave Briley $5,000 in campaign contributions through two separate installments last year after Briley's DUI and alleged evading arrest incident.

One $2,500 check came in October, a few weeks after Briley's incident, and another came in December. Briley had stepped down as Judiciary Chairman before either one of the checks was issued.

Although he was no longer chairman of the influential panel, the $5,000 Briley received was at least five times more than any other member of the House Judiciary Committee for the same reporting period. Four other Judiciary members received $1,000 campaign contributions each while three took in just $500.

Apparently, it takes more than this to embarrass the Tennessee Trial Lawyers Association.