Case against La. lawmaker back in court NEW ORLEANS (AP) (wrkf) - An attorney for a Louisiana lawmaker questions whether the potential jury pool for the money laundering case against his client has been tainted by extensive media coverage of the his recent arrest.

In court Wednesday, defense attorney John Reed stopped short of asking for a new trial date in the case against State Senator Derrick Shepherd.

But Reed told U.S. District Judge Carl Barbier he is concerned about the effect the media coverage of Shepherd's arrest on charges he assaulted his girlfriend would have on the case.

Barbier said he plans to use a questionnaire to weed out jurors who may have formed an opinion over the assault arrest.

A magistrate has ordered Shepherd to be confined at home while he awaits an October trial date in the federal case. © Copyright 2009, wrkf