*** UPDATE 1 - 12:39 pm *** Natasha Korecki has some scoopage…
It appears jurors in Rod Blagojevich’s case still have much deliberating to do.
The panel asked to meet for just a half a day tomorrow — until 12:30 p.m. — before going home for the weekend, people with knowledge of the request said.
*** UPDATE 2 - 1:06 pm *** Barton took this video of Blagojevich attorney Sheldon Sorosky talks about how he’s holding up during the long wait. Have a look…
[ *** End Of Updates *** ]
* My intern (they’re my interns for life, whether they know it or not) Barton Lorimor is assisting WSIL TV with coverage of the Blagojevich verdict. He arrived at the federal courthouse yesterday afternoon and hasn’t had much to do, so I asked him for a report. Here it is…
Dear Rich,
Day seven started out like any of its six predecessors. There was nothing new for Judge Zagel to report, leaving the roughly 30 reporters gathered here also with nothing to report.
The city outside is a flurry of activity. Lollapalooza is being set up two blocks away in Grant Park. President Obama is scheduled to attend a fundraiser for Alexi Giannoulias and the Democratic National Committee at the Palmer House, which is even closer. But inside the courthouse, the only noise is coming from two flat-screen televisions showing footage of Brett Favre and Alex Rodriguez…again.
Court staffers have remained exceptionally tight-lipped about this case, which has left the idling journalists to speculate about what is actually happening in the jury room and when a verdict might be on its way.
The US Marshals are really enforcing the building’s security. They are ready to take down any unsuspecting red-headed correspondent with a flip camera (yeah, that would be me). What on Earth would give a downstate reporter the idea that it was OK to shoot a short video in a roped-off section of the lobby labeled “Press Area” filled with television cameras?
Actually, Rich, the media could use these week-long stakeouts to their advantage. The next time I read about a newspaper or broadcast outlet laying off part of it’s staff, I will be critical of them for the lack of creativity. Those about to be cut loose should instead be sent to the Dirksen Building until they can’t take it anymore.
I’ll report back to you if anything happens. ANYTHING.
WAIT, RICH! AN UPDATE!
An exciting development here at the Courthouse: the cafeteria has switched from serving breakfast to lunch. No word yet on what is on the menu, but this is without a doubt the most exciting thing we have seen here since last night when the marshall informed us the jury had gone home.
you know how on a long car trip parents resort to having
their kids spot license plates from different states? perhaps
being around the building you could do tie spotting,
and report on the fashions of the lawyer set. Stripes?
Paisley? anyone sporting a Garcia tie? that’s about the
only way these guys distinguish themselves, with not
much to do with a suit.
or create a drinking game, for shots to be downed later…
every time someone mentions Rezko, or Fitzgerald in
conversation, fun at the bar later!
Soundgarden is also performing a very small warm-up show tonight at the Vic. They’ve only performed once since they disbanded in the late 90s. Tickets were impossible to come by, and I heard Soundgarden is hiding some around Chicago. Wish I could go.
That’s my useless Chicago-related comment of the day.
Hello Muddah …
Hello Faddah …
Here I am …
at Camp Blago …
Camp is very entertaining…
and they say we’ll have some fun when Adam, Jr., starts his yelling.
All the Marshalls hate the cameras
And the tech crews are in pajamas
And the judge wants no sissies
So he reads to us from something called Ulysses.
Now I don’t want this should scare ya
But my bunkmate is Larry Yellen
You remember Charlie Goudie
They’re about to organize a searching party.
Take me home, dear Rich Miller, take me home, I hate Camp Blago
Don’t leave me out in the hall where I might get eaten by a bear.
Take me home, I promise I will not make noise or mess the House with
other interns, oh please don’t make me stay, I’ve been here one whole day.
Dearest fadduh, darling muddah,
How’s my precious corner office?
Let me come home if ya miss me
I will even let Barbara Currie hug and kiss me.
Wait a minute, the jury’s leaving,
Guys are typing, camera are filming ,
Making reports, gee that’s better,
Muddah Fadduh kindly disregard this letter.
Head over to Cavanaugh’s in the Monadnock Building. The food is pretty good and they have a great bar. Plus, half the lunchtime crowd are defense attorneys and their clients. I used to see Scott Fawell in there when he was on trial. George Ryan too.
Heck, you can interview the bar tenders, who probably have more knowledge of the federal courts than most people in Chicago. They’ve heard it all.
- Former State Employee - Thursday, Aug 5, 10 @ 11:52 am:
Who made room for multiple Blagojevich minons.
Why doesn’t the main stream media report how many lives Blagojevich & his posse ruined. How many of them lost everything?
Oh! I’m sorry, that’s not news worthy. I for one hope he loses everything.
I tend to agree with Former State Employee, the state is over run with brain dead political appointees. Half the time they are either on vacation or hiding somewhere. Quinn has just helped perpetuate this problem, but Blagojevich went on a hiring frenzy shortly after he was elected back in 2002. The state lost many good intelligent individuals at the hands of Blago’s axe.
- Third Generation Chicago Native - Thursday, Aug 5, 10 @ 12:32 pm:
Sounds like being on Jury duty, as a potential Juror that is.
- And I Approved This Message - Thursday, Aug 5, 10 @ 12:43 pm:
S-T blog says the jury is only meeting for half a day tomorrow before breaking for the weekend. That doesn’t sound like a verdict is imminent.
- Retired Non-Union Guy - Thursday, Aug 5, 10 @ 12:52 pm:
Bulldog, a lot of us bailed before Blago took office. In my office a majority of the SPSA’s left (5 of 6 in just our group) and they were all career professionals, not political appointees. After the election results came in, I talked it over with my wife and decided to retire … we didn’t trust the clown and history has proven us right. The State still hasn’t recovered from the loss of talent and institutional memory it suffered in 2002. I still joke that the 2002 ERI was an intelligence test, and the smart people passed the test and left.
===I recommend Pizzeria Uno, a short 20 minute walk. ===
Berghoff Bar is right around the corner on Adams. You can have a couple of beers down before you even get to Uno’s
Barton, Uno is for tourists. Avoid it like The Plague. Berghoff ain’t what it used to be, either.
Grab a sandwich and hit The Skyride, right behind the Board of Trade. One of the last great dives in The Loop, it’s a friendly shot and a beer joint frequented by traders, ironworkers (not so many these days) and federales looking for a quick, discreet belt during the day.
Scott Cohen’s pawn shop/campaign headquarters is right around the corner if you want a change of pace from the Blago freakshow.
The city outside is a flurry of activity. Lollapalooza is being set up two blocks away in Grant Park. President Obama is scheduled to attend a fundraiser for Alexi Giannoulias and the Democratic National Committee at the Palmer House, which is even closer. But inside the courthouse, the only noise is coming from two flat-screen televisions showing footage of Brett Favre and Alex Rodriguez…again.
- Reggie P - Thursday, Aug 5, 10 @ 11:06 am:
Hang in there Barty!!!!
- Barton Lorimor - Thursday, Aug 5, 10 @ 11:12 am:
WAIT, RICH! AN UPDATE!
An exciting development here at the Courthouse: the cafeteria has switched from serving breakfast to lunch. No word yet on what is on the menu, but this is without a doubt the most exciting thing we have seen here since last night when the marshall informed us the jury had gone home.
- Amalia - Thursday, Aug 5, 10 @ 11:14 am:
Dear Bart:
you know how on a long car trip parents resort to having
their kids spot license plates from different states? perhaps
being around the building you could do tie spotting,
and report on the fashions of the lawyer set. Stripes?
Paisley? anyone sporting a Garcia tie? that’s about the
only way these guys distinguish themselves, with not
much to do with a suit.
or create a drinking game, for shots to be downed later…
every time someone mentions Rezko, or Fitzgerald in
conversation, fun at the bar later!
thanks for the coverage.
- Secret Square - Thursday, Aug 5, 10 @ 11:18 am:
Hmmm, Susan Berger has Tweeted that she “feels a verdict in the air”… you getting the same vibes too Barton?
- Cincinnatus - Thursday, Aug 5, 10 @ 11:22 am:
I hope Barton brought an extension cord and a “six-way” with him. I think they should be Capitol FAx supplied.
- Samwise - Thursday, Aug 5, 10 @ 11:25 am:
Soundgarden is also performing a very small warm-up show tonight at the Vic. They’ve only performed once since they disbanded in the late 90s. Tickets were impossible to come by, and I heard Soundgarden is hiding some around Chicago. Wish I could go.
That’s my useless Chicago-related comment of the day.
Keep up the good work, Barton.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Aug 5, 10 @ 11:26 am:
Hello Muddah …
Hello Faddah …
Here I am …
at Camp Blago …
Camp is very entertaining…
and they say we’ll have some fun when Adam, Jr., starts his yelling.
All the Marshalls hate the cameras
And the tech crews are in pajamas
And the judge wants no sissies
So he reads to us from something called Ulysses.
Now I don’t want this should scare ya
But my bunkmate is Larry Yellen
You remember Charlie Goudie
They’re about to organize a searching party.
Take me home, dear Rich Miller, take me home, I hate Camp Blago
Don’t leave me out in the hall where I might get eaten by a bear.
Take me home, I promise I will not make noise or mess the House with
other interns, oh please don’t make me stay, I’ve been here one whole day.
Dearest fadduh, darling muddah,
How’s my precious corner office?
Let me come home if ya miss me
I will even let Barbara Currie hug and kiss me.
Wait a minute, the jury’s leaving,
Guys are typing, camera are filming ,
Making reports, gee that’s better,
Muddah Fadduh kindly disregard this letter.
Signed,
Oswego Willy
- Barton Lorimor - Thursday, Aug 5, 10 @ 11:26 am:
=“feels a verdict in the air”=
Unless she is talking to one of the jurors, which is very illegal, I don’t see how anyone can go off of more than speculation.
- 47th Ward - Thursday, Aug 5, 10 @ 11:27 am:
Barton,
Head over to Cavanaugh’s in the Monadnock Building. The food is pretty good and they have a great bar. Plus, half the lunchtime crowd are defense attorneys and their clients. I used to see Scott Fawell in there when he was on trial. George Ryan too.
Heck, you can interview the bar tenders, who probably have more knowledge of the federal courts than most people in Chicago. They’ve heard it all.
- Barton Lorimor - Thursday, Aug 5, 10 @ 11:27 am:
= I hope Barton brought an extension cord and a “six-way” with him. =
Yup.
- Aldyth - Thursday, Aug 5, 10 @ 11:33 am:
How does one “feel” a verdict in the air? I thought that was humidity.
- David Ormsby - Thursday, Aug 5, 10 @ 11:37 am:
Keep the morsels flowing, Barton.
- Former State Employee - Thursday, Aug 5, 10 @ 11:52 am:
Who made room for multiple Blagojevich minons.
Why doesn’t the main stream media report how many lives Blagojevich & his posse ruined. How many of them lost everything?
Oh! I’m sorry, that’s not news worthy. I for one hope he loses everything.
- Cincinnatus - Thursday, Aug 5, 10 @ 11:53 am:
- Barton Lorimor - Thursday, Aug 5, 10 @ 11:27 am:
= I hope Barton brought an extension cord and a “six-way” with him. =
“Yup.”
But the important issue here is did Rich supply it?
- Barton Lorimor - Thursday, Aug 5, 10 @ 12:00 pm:
= did Rich supply it? =
No, but I left from Carbondale without passing through Springfield. It was just an extra lying around my apartment.
- Bulldog - Thursday, Aug 5, 10 @ 12:18 pm:
I tend to agree with Former State Employee, the state is over run with brain dead political appointees. Half the time they are either on vacation or hiding somewhere. Quinn has just helped perpetuate this problem, but Blagojevich went on a hiring frenzy shortly after he was elected back in 2002. The state lost many good intelligent individuals at the hands of Blago’s axe.
- Third Generation Chicago Native - Thursday, Aug 5, 10 @ 12:32 pm:
Sounds like being on Jury duty, as a potential Juror that is.
- Matt - Thursday, Aug 5, 10 @ 12:41 pm:
Good job Barton!
- And I Approved This Message - Thursday, Aug 5, 10 @ 12:43 pm:
S-T blog says the jury is only meeting for half a day tomorrow before breaking for the weekend. That doesn’t sound like a verdict is imminent.
- Retired Non-Union Guy - Thursday, Aug 5, 10 @ 12:52 pm:
Bulldog, a lot of us bailed before Blago took office. In my office a majority of the SPSA’s left (5 of 6 in just our group) and they were all career professionals, not political appointees. After the election results came in, I talked it over with my wife and decided to retire … we didn’t trust the clown and history has proven us right. The State still hasn’t recovered from the loss of talent and institutional memory it suffered in 2002. I still joke that the 2002 ERI was an intelligence test, and the smart people passed the test and left.
- Kevin Fanning - Thursday, Aug 5, 10 @ 2:08 pm:
Keep up the good work Barton. Too bad you don’t have Patterson’s futon there to pass the time- always did the trick for me…
- wordslinger - Thursday, Aug 5, 10 @ 2:40 pm:
I feel for you, Barton. Waiting on a jury is the worst.
- Cincinnatus - Thursday, Aug 5, 10 @ 3:57 pm:
Barton,
I recommend Pizzeria Uno, a short 20 minute walk.
- Been There - Thursday, Aug 5, 10 @ 4:52 pm:
===I recommend Pizzeria Uno, a short 20 minute walk. ===
Berghoff Bar is right around the corner on Adams. You can have a couple of beers down before you even get to Uno’s
- wordslinger - Friday, Aug 6, 10 @ 7:44 am:
Barton, Uno is for tourists. Avoid it like The Plague. Berghoff ain’t what it used to be, either.
Grab a sandwich and hit The Skyride, right behind the Board of Trade. One of the last great dives in The Loop, it’s a friendly shot and a beer joint frequented by traders, ironworkers (not so many these days) and federales looking for a quick, discreet belt during the day.
Scott Cohen’s pawn shop/campaign headquarters is right around the corner if you want a change of pace from the Blago freakshow.
- Zora - Friday, Aug 6, 10 @ 10:18 am:
I would like to hear what other local dives our man Barton could eat / drink it. Strictly out of curiosity, of course.