Judge: Ex-state senator to face jury in Arkansas bribe suit

LITTLE ROCK — A federal judge ruled that a former Arkansas state senator accused of bribery, wire fraud and conspiracy will stand trial before a jury, denying his request to be tried by a judge next year.

Former Arkansas state Sen. Gilbert Baker (R), 63, is accused of being the middleman in an effort to bribe former Faulkner County Circuit Judge Michael Maggio, who is now serving a 10-year sentence in prison for bribery.

Baker's trial is slated to begin Feb. 22 and is expected to last for nearly two weeks, the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reported Thursday.

Chief U.S. District Judge D. Price Marshall Jr. determined in an order filed Wednesday that Baker's case isn't too complicated for a jury to understand.

Read more: https://www.texarkanagazette.com/news/arkansas/story/2020/jul/17/judge-ex-state-senator-face-jury-arkansas-bribe-suit/834592/