Blagojevich judge, attorney clash; jury sent home

[Tx4obama]

Source: TPM

The judge in Rod Blagojevich's corruption trial has clashed with an attorney for the former Illinois governor about what the lawyer can say in closing arguments.

Judge James Zagel sent the jury home for the day Monday after Blagojevich's attorney Sam Adam Jr. complained the judge was gutting his closing arguments. Adam said he intended to mention witnesses that prosecutors did not call — even though the judge previously warned him not to do so.

Adam also says he would be willing to go to jail for contempt if the judge didn't change his mind.

Read more: http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/news/2010/07/blagojevich_judge_attorney_clash_jury_sent_home.php?ref=fpa

[opihimoimoi]

1. Hey...its 2 for i....two guys going to jail off 1 trial

[LARED]

2. Sounds like a desperate attempt at getting a mistrial - nt

[bemildred]

3. Yep, I want to talk about evidence that was not presented.

Classic.

[seattleblue]

5. The government talked about evidence not presented in their closing.

They talked about witnesses they said they were going to call but didn't. The defense has every right to talk about those same non-called government witnesses. Adams, Jr., Blago's lawyer is entirely correct here.

[bemildred]

7. Well good, I love legal presentations about unpresented evidence.

Should be a real corker all around.

[rpannier]

4. I do find this part of Blago's defense amusing

...the defense argument that all the governor did was talk

By that logic, if I talk to a hit man about killing someone, it's not a crime until that person is dead.

[alcibiades_mystery]

6. If they charged the hitman with murder, then it would be an entirely cogent defense

to point out that the victim is not dead. If they charged the hitman with conspiracy to commit murder, as they should have, you'd be entirely correct.

;-)

[seattleblue]

8. That wasn't the defense argument now was it?

The defense said that Blago engaged in political talk and horse trading. Something that all politicians do as they seek support for themselves or some project or person they want. We just went through this with Obama and the PA Senate seat discussions. It goes on all the time and is not a crime. The defense is correct.