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DEL.ICIO.USJudge gets tough with juror
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Jury selection slogged along today in the Bill Campbell federal corruption trial, with three more potential jurors getting picked and the judge scolding another for not listening to his instructions.
The chided potential juror, a middle-aged white man, told U.S. District Judge Richard Story that his wife had left out a newspaper article about jury selection in the trial and he had perused it.
“I know you told us not to, but I glanced at it,� the man said with a faint smile.
The man then recited some of the details from the story that he remembered — a few of them wrong. “You need to understand there are sanctions, there are fines and penalties for not following the court’s instruction,� Story said. “This is not a minor slip-up. This is a big deal to me.�
Story excused the man from service but told his courtroom deputy to keep him around until he decides what to do with him.
At lunch, nine more potential jurors had been qualified bringing the total to 26. The court wants to create a pool of at least 34 potential jurors before the two sides strike, or select, a 12-person jury with four alternates. That could come as early as Thursday.
Campbell, 52, who is charged with seven counts of racketeering, income tax evasion and bribery, walked into court today saying that he had slept restfully. The former mayor and a few supporters prayed before walking into the courtroom.
Those excused from service today were:
— A 69-year-old nanny, who lives on Lake Lanier, who was unsure of how she would get to Atlanta each day.
— A man whose company is on the verge of a round of layoffs and who feared that his absence for up to eight weeks would ultimately cost him his job.
— A woman who cares for her elderly aunt.
A woman real estate agent said she was concerned about lost income from the trial, causing the defense to ask for her to be excused on a “hardship� because of the possible length of the trial.
Lead defense lawyer Billy Martin speculated that the trial could last more than eight weeks.
Story was not happy hearing that.
“I’m putting you on notice that if you expect to it to last eight weeks, be prepared for weekend work,� the judge said.
Staff writer Ernie Suggs contributed to this report.
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