Federal judge threatens SOS Worley with contempt

From the AP:

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — A federal judge has asked Secretary of State Nancy Worley to show why she should not be found in contempt of court for not fully cooperating with Gov. Bob Riley's efforts to comply with a court mandate to develop an overdue statewide voter registration system.

U.S. District Judge Keith Watkins ordered Worley Friday to respond to a report filed earlier by Riley's attorney that said Worley had refused to cooperate with a committee set up by Riley to manage development of the voter registration system. In the report, Riley's legal adviser Ken Wallis said Worley had indicated she would only deal directly with the governor and not with individual members of the governor's committee.

Watkins said he would consider Worley's response and comments from Riley and then decide if the secretary of state should be held in contempt of court.

"In making her responses to the court, defendant Worley is advised not to parse the words of the orders of this court, nor to test the court's willingness to utilize its contempt powers," Watkins said in a sternly worded three-page order.

Nancy Worley has responded with her old stand-by excuse: "The Republicans are out to get me." Unfortunately for Mrs. Worley, lashing out at Republicans won't help her out much right now. What she needs is a lawyer or two. Too bad she ran them all off.