Ping
Posted on 08/11/2005 10:28:53 AM PDT by WKB
JACKSON - Biloxi attorney Paul Minor says friends are showing up to support him during a judicial bribery trial, but prosecutors think the defense team is manipulating the jury.
U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson sat on the front row, behind the defense table, when jurors arrived to deliberate Monday and Tuesday. Former Congressman Wayne Dowdy sat beside Thompson on Monday morning.
"You can see right through that," said U.S. Attorney Dunn Lampton. "They're there for the purpose of trying to influence the jury."
Thompson and Dowdy, both Democrats, said they dropped by to buoy their friend Minor, a multimillionaire who contributed $50,000 to the Democratic National Committee in 2001, before his legal troubles began.
Attorneys for Minor and three judges learned from pretrial jury screenings that 10 of 12 jurors are Democrats. One juror lives in Bolton, Thompson's hometown. The jury forewoman handed out fliers during a Dowdy campaign, she wrote on her questionnaire.
Attorneys for both sides have studied pretrial jury questionnaires, culling generalities and details about the 12 jurors.
The defense strategy has dovetailed with the jury's racial composition, socioeconomic background and political leanings. Ten of the 12 jurors are black. Most earn modest incomes, consider faith "extremely important," and have a high school education.
During the trial, defendants have stressed their empathy and support for "the little guy" and minority causes. In closing arguments, one defense attorney quoted from the Bible.
Only one defendant, former Circuit Judge John Whitfield, is black.
But Thompson and other black friends of defendants Minor and state Supreme Court Justice Oliver Diaz Jr. have shown up in court.
Blacks also served as key witnesses for Minor and Diaz. They stressed Minor's financial help and Diaz's work with the Legislative Black Caucus when he served as a state representative.
Two jurors listed Martin Luther King Jr. on the questionnaire as the person they most admire. A defense witness recalled being impressed because Minor had a portrait of King in his law firm.
Whitfield rested his case without presenting a defense, while former Chancery Judge Wes Teel called only one witness.
Michael Crosby, who represents Whitfield, quoted from the Bible in closing arguments. Crosby also managed to work in a biblical phrase one juror included on her questionnaire: "I will lift up mine eyes to the hills from whence my help cometh."
Stakes in the case are high. The federal government spent almost three years gathering evidence to show Minor slipped the judges loans, cash and third-party checks in exchange for favorable rulings. All four are charged with bribery and fraud. Minor also faces racketeering and extortion charges.
Jurors began deliberations Saturday on 17 charges.
They are in the courtroom at the beginning and end of each day, and when they need the judge to answer questions. Before they are called in from the room where they deliberate, Judge Henry T. Wingate summons attorneys from both sides.
The defense team brings along supporters.
Thompson, busy in Congress before the recent recess, said he showed up during deliberations for one reason: "I'm here to make up for my lack of presence at the beginning of the trial. I'd like to think for anyone who is having challenges in life, their friends would show up for the showdown."
Dowdy, who now practices law in Magnolia, said Minor is a longtime friend and Democratic Party contributor.
"I respect Justice Diaz, Judge Teel and Judge Whitfield and call them all friends," Dowdy said. "I hope this jury finds them not guilty."
The "little guy" also is represented in the courtroom in the person of Ralph Cook, a Biloxi resident Minor represented on an asbestos claim in the 1970s, eventually winning an undisclosed settlement. During the long ordeal, Cook, who is black, became a family friend.
He said he did janitorial work for Minor at his law office, and lawn maintenance at his home, until he had his left leg amputated in 2002. Cook, 69, said he came to Jackson at Minor's request. He was supposed to serve as a character witness during the trial, but the judge didn't allow any.
Cook and Minor's longtime friend, retired bishop the Rev. Joe Doss, flank Minor's family on the front row. Doss, who wears a clerical collar and Anglican bishop's purple shirt, is also a lawyer and was a potential character witness.
"It's a very religious jury," Doss said. "I've looked at the questionnaires, but that's not why I'm here." Instead, he is providing spiritual and legal guidance to Minor, his friend since college.
Wingate offered to start deliberations each morning without calling in the lawyers, but defense attorney Crosby objected.
He later explained: "I want the jury to see my client's face as many times as possible. It makes him human and it reminds (the jury) what's at stake. The more you get in that room (for deliberations), the more worn out you get, the more you forget the magnitude of what you're going to do.
"It's hard to destroy someone's life if you have to look at them."
Ping
They will all go free. This trial was rigged from the start.
I think you are on to something there!!!
This article doesn't explain the half of it. My Vb Post does not show their article on line, but here goes from today:
This jury has thus far requested from the judge (Wingate)
1. permission to go to the barbershop and for the ladies to get their hair done
2. one juor has asked for a muscle relaxer
3. one juror refused to participate in discussions or to examine evidence (the foreman has since given the judge SEVERAL similar letters about other jurors taking the same position)!
- - - - - -
"...but prosecutors think the defense team is manipulating the jury."
Gee...ya' think? lol
After reading this article, there is absolutely no question what is going on.
Not that this jury is in need of any influencing...
"1. permission to go to the barbershop and for the ladies to get their hair done
2. one juor has asked for a muscle relaxer
3. one juror refused to participate in discussions or to examine evidence (the foreman has since given the judge SEVERAL similar letters about other jurors taking the same position)!"
Good Lord!
Don't that beat all...
For what it's worth, word on the street amongst lawyers in downtown Jackson is that (1) everybody will walk; (2) diaz will walk, but they'll get Minor on some charges; or (3) there will be a mistrial.
I'm placing my bets on the mistrial right now.
I'm placing my bets on the mistrial right now.
I'm betting on you!
"I'm betting on you!"
That would make two of us!
He is a brilliant, young attorney, isn't he? ;o)
Watch me be totally wrong. I'm not the best oddsmaker, y'know.
Just in case anyone else is as clueless about this as I am...
Paul Minor, a Mississippi lawyer, has been indicted in federal court for an act that the government deems corrupt: guaranteeing and partially paying a $75,000 loan to a judge's former wife. The judge in question, Mississippi Supreme Court Justice Oliver E. Diaz Jr., did not participate in any case involving Minor after the loan was guaranteed, but the government contends that Justice Diaz repaid the favor by joining a unanimous decision that benefitted Minor's father, who was a defendant in a libel case.
Mr. Minor, a former president of the Mississippi Trial Lawyers Association, contends that the United States attorney here, Dunn Lampton, a Republican, singled him out for prosecution for political reasons, because he is a big contributor to Democratic candidates and a vocal opponent of efforts to limit injury awards.
Watch me be totally wrong. I'm not the best oddsmaker, y'know.
Not only that you're talking to your self again
Just in case anyone else is as clueless about this as I am...
And you are just across the river!
Thanks
it has been a LONG week. (sigh.)
"it has been a LONG week. (sigh.)"
LOL!
TGIF, bourbon.
Have a very restful weekend. ;o)
It's been a wonderful week here in paradise for us.
Went to Gulfport and met gulfcoast6 and his family for dinner.
What a beautiful drive down Hwy 49 and back. Even stopped off and drove thru Mt. Olive.
It sounds like you had a very lovely time.
I love to drive the back roads of MS.
The countryside is just beautiful.
We have a lot of fir trees out here.
But, I miss the piney woods of MS.
If I weren't anxious to get to Meridian,
or running late to catch the plane,
I'd drive Hwy 80 to Meridian, instead
of taking the interstate.
I love driving (or riding) everywhere here, except downtown by the river which is only at 4.2 feet right now!
We need rain.
Even the grass is turning brown.
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