NOTE: I wrote this story as a freelance correspondent for Agence France-Presse. The copy below is exactly what I submitted, pre-editing.

331st Judicial District Court Judge Bob Perkins today excused U.S. Rep. Tom DeLay from his first court appearance after deciding to allow another judge to consider a motion asking Perkins to recuse himself from the case due to alleged conflicts of interest.

Perkins questioned DeLay’s lead counsel, Dick DeGuerin, about accusations of conflicts of interest, and said he asked B.B. Schraub, presiding judge of the Third Administrative Judicial Region, to investigate the accusations.

DeLay’s attorneys say that since investigations began three years ago, Perkins has made six contributions to organizations that oppose DeLay, such as the Democratic Party or liberal organizations like MoveOn.org.

DeGuerin said moveon.org is already selling T-shirts featuring DeLay’s mug shot. That organization’s web site does not mention the T-shirts, but it does list a campaign to “Fire Tom DeLay.”

Perkins asked Schraub to consider the motion, but said it appears similar issues would arise any time a Democratic judge presided over the trial of a Republican defendant.

DeGuerin, addressing a horde of reporters outside the courtroom, said the motion isn’t about Democrats or Republicans, but that Perkins’ political contributions were in opposition to DeLay.

“Frankly a judge should avoid even the appearance of impropriety,” DeGuerin said.

He said DeLay would ask for a change of venue because “leaks and innuendo” in the press over the last three years have tainted the jury pool in Travis County, and DeLay would get a more fair trial elsewhere.

About nine protesters on the steps outside the courtroom sang versions of popular folk ballads, “The Eyes of Texas,” and “Yankee Doodle,” tweaking the lyrics to criticize DeLay. One protester held a large sign saying “Is the hammer heading for the slammer,” and another wore a grim reaper costume.

At a brief press conference at the Capitol, DeLay said he was glad to have the first opportunity in three years to refute the charges against him.

“I have committed no wrong doing,” he said.