Baltimore, MARYLAND

Baltimore Mayor Sheila Dixon's (D) trial will start Monday, November 9. Dixon faces felony charges of theft and misdemeanor charges related to her duties. The case against her alleges that she stole gift cards intended for needy families that were donated to the city by two developers.

Ronald Limpscom, a developer who once was romantically involved with Dixon while she was City Council President, was given probation for making an illegal campaign contribution after pleading guilty to putting $6,500 toward a political survey for City Councilwoman Helen Holton. He will be testifying against Dixon, who’s accused of lying about gifts from him and stealing gift cards donated for needy families.

Lipscomb apologized to his wife.
Photo credit: Associated Press

Nov 9, 2009 - The Christian Science Monitor is already playing the race card. "Jury selection key in trial of Baltimore mayor Sheila Dixon" ... jury's racial composition could determine who wins the case.

Legal experts say the racial and gender makeup of the jury will be key. Baltimore city juries are notoriously sympathetic to minority defendants, says University of Baltimore School of Law professor Byron Warnken. The Democratic Dixon, the first female mayor of Baltimore, is black; Mr. Rohrbaugh, a Republican, is white.

“We cannot underestimate the fact that the state prosecutors office is all white guys who don’t practice in the city,” Professor Warnken says. “Race is germane in the United States of America, and it is really germane in the criminal justice system.”

[Ed - It is in the parlance of politics, a football where one side wins and the other side loses. No right. No wrong. Just winning and losing and to heck with decency, justice or the public right to honest representation.]