Lubbock Lawyer Acquitted In Hearing
By: Allison Morrison
Updated: September 29, 2009
The Lubbock lawyer jailed for refusing to testify against a former client was acquitted Tuesday.
Lubbock Criminal Defense lawyer Ben Webb cited attorney-client privilege when asked to testify against a former client.
By doing so, Webb was found in contempt of court and put in jail by District Judge Jim Bob Darnell.
Webb was released later that day by another District Judge.
In a hearing Tuesday, Webb was acquitted and his record was expunged of the charge.
His lawyer, Rod Hobson, tells us Webb should have never been punished for following the law by choosing to assert attorney-client privilege in this case.
Assistant District Attorney, John Grace, says he's satisfied with the agreement both parties were able to reach.
"The most important thing here is really this case ended back in June, shortly after Mr. Webb was held in contempt, when the Judge said that there would be no more punishment," John Grace said.
"I also feel some sense of vindication that what I did was right. I feel good that the result we got today in the courtroom when the Judge entered a filing of not guilty. So it feels good to know what you feel was right, was right," Ben Webb says.
Webb is also supported by the Lubbock Criminal Defense Lawyers Association.
A spokesman for the group says the Criminal Defense Bar is outraged by what happened to Webb.
