Bailed Out -- For Now

GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA: A federal appeals court gave famed defense attorney F. Lee Bailey a few more days to come up with $21 million in cash and stocks claimed by the government. The 11th Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta late Thursday night ordered a temporary stay of Bailey's six-month contempt of court sentence, which was to begin at 10 a.m. Friday. District Judge Maurice Paul had denied Bailey's request for more time, giving Bailey until February 29 to turn over the $3 million in cash and $18 million dollars worth of stock that Bailey says he received in lieu of fees and expenses from a former client, drug trafficker Claude Duboc. The government claims it has the right to the money because Duboc had agreed to forfeit his assets after pleading guilty on charges of conspiring to import tons of marijuana. Bailey lawyer Roger Zuckerman had argued that his client needed more time to transfer the stock, which is currently being held in a Swiss bank. In court Thursday, Bailey said he had worked hard to comply: "I've tried to raise the millions the order requires. I have worked day and night in every quadrant where I have any clout whatsoever to come up with the money." A further hearing is set for next Tuesday in Atlanta.