* That lone holdout Blagojevich juror was a real problem for others…
Of particular concern, several jurors said Wednesday, was the lone holdout on numerous counts that would have convicted Blagojevich of trying to sell the U.S. Senate seat vacated by President Barack Obama. John Grover, 52, a juror from Joliet, said he grew so frustrated after three days of deliberating on the same charge that he yelled at the woman who refused to join the other 11 in agreeing to convict.
“I gave her a piece of my mind,” Grover said. “If it wasn’t for that one lady, we’d have had him convicted on probably 80 percent of (the indictment).”
Grover considered going to the judge to tell him that the female juror was deliberating in bad faith, but he felt that would do no good. […]
Stephen Wlodek, of Bartlett, said it bothered him that after the verdict, the former governor and his defense team claimed the prosecution failed to make its case.
“In a way, they didn’t prove it to one person,” he said. “I just felt a little slighted by that. It gave the impression to the residents of the state that this jury was deadlocked right down the middle when we weren’t.”
Mr. Grover probably should’ve gone to the judge. Even if it didn’t work, at least the higher-ups would’ve been notified that there was a serious problem.
* CBS2 has identified the woman…
Sources tell CBS 2 News that the holdout juror is Jo Ann Chiakulas, a retired state employee. She used to work for the Illinois Department of Public Health, had been a director of teen counseling for the Chicago Urban League and once handed out campaign literature for a relative who ran for public office.
Coincidentally, the Chicago Urban League was once headed by Cheryle Jackson, a former Blagojevich press secretary, although it appears Chiakulas left the Urban League several years before Jackson became the league’s president. […]
The holdout juror seemed to stand firm no matter how hard her fellow jurors argued.
“It just surprised, shocked all of us I think that someone would have such a different opinion than ourselves,” said Parker.
* And, if true, this revelation from Fox Chicago is not a good thing…
FOX Chicago News reported that it is likely to be juror Jo Ann Chiakulas of Willowbrook, after a second-hand acquaintance said that she has been saying since early july that she would find Blagojevich not guilty. [Emphasis added.]
Yikes.
* Meanwhile, some jurors are apparently complaining about media contacts…
The Clerk of court has just sent out this release, on behalf of U.S. District Judge James Zagel.
“It has come to the Court’s attention that certain jurors in the Blagojevich trial are calling and complaining about numerous phone calls from the media asking for interviews and visiting their homes. The United States Marshal has advised the jurors to call 911 to report the incidents.
Please keep in mind that some of these jurors simply do not wish to talk, and if they have not agreed to talk with you, we ask that you respect their privacy.”
The cops can’t do much about reporters doing their jobs.
* Kristen McQueary weighs in on whether reporters should leave jurors alone…
On one hand, the criminal justice system randomly picked them to serve. They didn’t ask for the spotlight, and they deserve to resume their private lives once they complete their service.
On the other hand, the 12 jurors in Blagojevich’s case deliberated one of Illinois’ most historic cases, which began with the pre-dawn arrest of a sitting governor pulled from his bed sheets by FBI agents. Of 24 criminal counts the federal government splashed on Blagojevich’s rap sheet, jurors returned just one guilty verdict - on quite possibly the meekest charge of the batch.
In some respects, aren’t jurors obligated in a broader, historical context to lend transparency to the proceedings? To answer basic questions? To set the record straight?
Everyone - the public, prosecutors, defense attorneys, the judge, the defendants - wants to understand the factors that played into their decision, particularly when U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald is vowing to retry the case.
* As does the SouthtownStar…
As a news gathering organization, we are compelled to ferret out the best sources for every story we cover, every day, year in and year out. We expect our reporters to act responsibly and respectfully in pursuit of the truth, and never advocate harassing or stalking anyone.
The story, post verdict, is quite simply the jury: What was said, what presented problems, who were the holdouts?
The residents of this state funded this expensive and drawn out drama, and they have every right to learn what it was like to deliberate the fate of our former top elected state official for the past 14 days.
We don’t ask these questions to improve our health. The media doesn’t exist simply to annoy jurors on high-profile cases.
It is our duty to ask the questions that the public cannot, simply because they have jobs and kids and obligations and perhaps cannot devote their lives to asking what they want to know.
That’s our job, and we take it seriously.
So we find it incredulous that the U.S. marshal feels that possibly tying up emergency phone lines is an appropriate response to media inquires.
* Roundup…
* Mitchell: Blame feds — not jurors — for deadlock
* Some Blago jurors support retrial
* A New Trial Means a New Jury
* Jurors wanted to clear Robert Blagojevich
* Blagojevich juror: Robert Blagojevich shouldn’t be tried again
* Profanity for Obama? ‘Where I come from, that doesn’t happen
* Juror: Blago kids should’ve stayed home
* What the Blagojevich Jury Thinks
* Southland Blago jurors keep quiet on case
* ‘I’ve been on juries before, I’ve never had it this tough’
* Do it again, but without us, Blagojevich jurors say
* News-Sun: Retrial? Yes
* $25M-$30M for retrial? Hard to say
* Largest Cost of Retrial: Defending Blagojevich
* What should feds do differently next time in the Blagojevich case?
* Government Has Advantage in Retrial: Former Prosecutor
* Uncertainty surrounds Blagojevich retrial
* Does costly Blago retrial deter further corruption?
* Lawyers: Blago’s media blitz worked
* Blagojevich Seeking Out Media Opportunities
* Sneed: The Blago beat
* Foster: Rod dodges bullet
* Lipson: Jersey Shore politics in Illinois
* Hinz: Rod’s long legal road
* QC Times: Blagojevich conviction doesn’t change much
* Register Star: Corruption must end; Blago retrial necessary
* Herald-Review: Illinois faces more embarrassment
* News-Democrat: One and counting: The Blagojevich verdict
* Guilty count could cost Blago 5 years in jail
* Blago: No comment on retrial, conviction
* Newly-Convicted Blagojevich Takes Daughter to Camp
* Blagojevich does dad duty on day after verdict
* What’s next in USA v. Rod Blagojevich?
* Kadner: Ettinger vows to unveil whole Senate deal story
* Ch. 7 a ratings winner in coverage of verdict
