OXFORD - Sidney Backstrom, a co-defendant in the 2007 Scruggs judicial bribery scandal, asks the federal court to shorten his post-prison supervision.

Backstrom, a disbarred attorney who once lived in Oxford, pleaded guilty in 2008 to a conspiracy to bribe Circuit Judge Henry Lackey, who presided over a legal case against the Scruggs Katrina Law Firm and others. Backstrom was a Scruggs partner.

He was sentenced to 28 months in prison and fined $250,000.

Monday, through his attorney, Backstrom asked the court to end his supervised release term, in effect the past 22 months.

The supervision period ends about Aug. 13, 2013, his request notes.

He also says the U.S. Attorney's Office has no objections to his request.

Backstrom's motion says he has "shown model post-conviction adjustment and conduct" since his release and complied with all terms and conditions, as well as being employed.

He insists that his "further and continued supervision is not required."

A co-defendant in the case, Steve Patterson of New Albany, on Monday received the court's permission to modify his supervised release so he and his wife can travel to Greece, Italy and Spain with the University of Mississippi Alumni Association.

Senior U.S. District Judge Neal B. Biggers Jr., denied Patterson's request to seal his motion so that the media would not publicize their departure from their home.

patsy.brumfield@journalinc.com