Posted on 05/17/2010 11:30:08 PM PDT by STARWISE
Jurors selected to hear the upcoming criminal case against former Gov. Rod Blagojevich will have their identities withheld from the public until they reach a verdict, the judge who’ll oversee Blagojevich’s trial said Monday.
In a meeting with reporters about news-gathering procedures for the trial, U.S. District Court Judge James Zagel expressed concern that people might email or otherwise barrage jurors with opinions about Blagojevich, who has made numerous television and radio appearances since his December 2008 arrest.
Jurors are not supposed to discuss trials — or even view news coverage about them — outside of court.
Similarly, Zagel said that a copy of the questionnaire that potential jurors are filling out won’t be released until the Blagojevich verdict is in.
Zagel’s decision to refer to jurors by number in Blagojevich’s case is a change from what happened in 2006, when Blagojevich’s predecessor — now-imprisoned GOP Gov. George Ryan — went on trial on public-corruption charges of his own.
During Ryan’s trial, the Chicago Tribune found that two jurors deliberating Ryan’s fate reported on questionnaires that they’d never been accused of crimes, when, in fact, they’d been arrested.
The judge in Ryan’s case dismissed those jurors, but Ryan’s lawyers cited the jury problems in failed attempts to appeal his conviction.
Jury selection in Blagojevich’s case is set to begin early next month. Blagojevich has denied all the charges he’s facing, including that he effectively put President Obama’s once-vacant U.S. Senate seat up for sale.
In another development Monday, prosecutors disclosed that onetime Blagojevich adviser Tony Rezko had begun cooperating with the government in July 2008 — the month after Rezko was convicted on charges he used his influence in Blagojevich’s administration to benefit himself and his associates.
Blagojevich, prosecutors wrote in a court filing, became aware of Rezko’s cooperation “by at least November 2008.”
As a result, “Blagojevich’s decision about who he was going to appoint as Senator was significantly affected by his knowledge that Rezko had been convicted and was providing information to the government,” according to prosecutors.
“In short, Blagojevich strongly considered appointing himself to become Senator because he felt that this would put him in a better position if he were indicted.”
Ultimately, Blagojevich took a pass: He appointed Roland Burris to fill Obama’s seat.
Also Monday, Blagojevich’s lawyers announced plans to make yet another attempt at delaying his trial, which is set to begin early next month.
They intend to ask the U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday to stop the trial from getting started until the high court rules on the constitutionality of a federal law that makes it a crime for officials to deprive taxpayers of “honest services.”
A ruling on that matter is expected sometime in June. Jury selection in Blagojevich’s trial is set to begin June 3.
Ping.
Oh I forgot, it is Chicago. Silly me.
~~Ping!
Sounds like a private public hanging.
Only until the verdict? Seems they should be given new identities and fingerprints and everything.
Hope in the ‘age of information’ that this can be assured; but do not see how. (Of course, Obama has successfully, concealed a ‘great deal’; but his is another story, altogether.)
Geez—are they afraid of the presidents hitmen now? Or are they afraid one of the jurors might be bought by the promise of a czar job?
DOn't forget: Roland Burris had received thousands/month from Loop Enterprises for services rendered. Loop Enterprises was run by BO's "best friend" and BIL. Loop was also involved in the pay for play in Philadelphia. (The one where the star witness died before the case could be heard....Cancer)
“What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas”
“What happens in Chicago, stays buried 6 feet under”
The identity of the witnesses will probably also be withheld too. They will just have to have a voice over for one of them so no one knows whom his reading from the teleprompter.
Protecting The Family, that’s all. Nothing to see here.
Very interesting.
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