Birmingham, ALABAMA

August 18, 2008 - Jury selection has begun in the trial of state Rep. Sue Schmitz, a teacher turned legislator, accused of taking $175,000 in pay from Alabama's two-year college system for work she never performed.

The trial is expected to last at least two weeks. UPDATE: It ended in a mistrial.
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• Previous TT coverage of the two-year college system scandal. Here
• And Schmitz' arrest. Entry
• Corruption in Community Colleges in Alabama. Entry
• Corruption in Education (in Alabama) Entry Schmitz is among 43 legislators The News identified who had financial ties to two-year colleges from 2002 to 2006. The legislators, their close relatives or businesses received work from the system during the period, in most cases after the lawmakers were elected.
• A newspaper investigation found 13 legislators who were presently employed in Alabama community college system.

FEDERAL INVESTIGATION A federal investigation of the two-year system has resulted in agreements to plead guilty by a former state representative and a former two-year college chancellor. Two current legislators have been charged and are awaiting trial while a grand jury in Birmingham continues to review the colleges. Previous TT coverage. Entry and Entry and Entry