Hill Gets a Second Court Date to Follow the Long, Hot Summer of a Public Corruption Trial

This morning, a Very Special Unfair Park Correspondent -- which is to say, Herschel Wilonsky, my dad -- found himself in U.S. District Judge Barbara Lynn's courtroom for Don Hill's contempt of court proceedings. Lynn didn't rule this morning, except to say last night's prayer vigil didn't violate her initial gag order, "but she's not happy with what he said to WFAA on June 12," reports Herschel, who's referring to this interview the former mayor pro tem gave to Gary Reaves. Hence, the judge has scheduled a contempt hearing for November 2 -- by which time the public corruption trial should be over.

Or, maybe not. Jury selection's scheduled to begin in mere moments, and those selected are in for a long sit. Lynn said this morning that she expects the prosecution will need seven weeks to present its case; the defense, at least three. Dad also reports that Lynn said there will be brief breaks taken as needed, should jury members need to, oh, take kids to college toward the end of the summer. Should be quite the prolonged circus, as Dad spotted a CNN crew amongst the media masses camped out in front of the courthouse in advance of jury selection. "It's gonna get bigger, like a sore that festers," said the old man upon exiting the Earle Cabell. Will Big Hersh, who volunteered for duty last night, keep covering the story throughout the proceedings? Highly doubtful: "I don't get paid enough." Spoken like a veteran newsman.

Update: But where were Brian and Cheryl Potashnik? We've got a call into Potashnik attorney Abbe Lowell, who, at 10:45 this morning, was on a conference call in his Washington, D.C., office and unavailable to comment. And Stephen Jones, the Potashniks' Enid-based attorney, was not in his office today; his assistant says she'll forward along the message.