Jury Foreman Asks That Juror in Stevens Trial Be Removed

[tekisui]

By Del Quentin Wilber
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, October 23, 2008; 3:46 PM

The foreman of the jury in Alaska Sen. Ted Stevens's corruption trial asked today that a juror be removed following "violent outbursts" with other jurors and her refusal to "follow the rules and laws" during deliberations.

In a note to the judge, the foreman said he represented the views of 10 other jurors in requesting that the juror, identified only as No. 9, be removed from the panel. He also described her as "rude, disrespectful and unreasonable."

But U.S. District Judge Emmet G. Sullivan declined. He read the note in court and summoned the panel into the courtroom for what he called "a pep talk." He told the jurors to act with civility and sent them back to deliberate in the first trial of a sitting U.S. senator in more than two decades.

Stevens (R) is charged with lying on financial disclosure forms to hide receipt of more than $250,000 in gifts and renovations to his home in Girdwood, Alaska. Jurors listened to a month of testimony from more than 40 witnesses and began deliberations yesterday.

more at link: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/story/2008/10/23/ST2008102302079.html

[OwnedByFerrets]

1. Wow, will be interesting to find out more about this.

[tekisui]

2. Pure speculation makes me think this is the one juror that wants

to say not guilty. Of course, I have no idea.

[Winterblues]

3. There is going to be a hung jury

There has to be at least one Republican on that jury and we know how Republicans regard the Law. Republicans always put Party before country or the rule of Law.. Always..

[Blue_In_AK]

4. I'm thinking hung jury, too, WinterBlues

or an acquittal, although that one phone recording about "a little time in jail" was pretty damning.

[Winterblues]

7. Sounds like ten on the jury are for following the Law and two are being obstinate

Also there was that little note Ted sent Persons which said he liked the chair very much and sometimes fell asleep in it..You don't send a thank you note for something you are storing..

[sam sarrha]

5. the ReThuglican Party is beyond any doubt a Cult

[ThoughtCriminal]

6. This is how Gov Fife Symington (R-AZ) got off

There was one juror, (who turned out to be republican precinct captain who lied during selection), who refused to deliberate and thought that Symington has too handsom to be guilty. The other jurors asked her to be removed. The judge agreed and the jury found him guilty, but the Appeals Court overturned, ruling that the juror was improperly removed.