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* The Tribune’s profile of Sam Adam, Jr. reveals a very nervous man in anticipation of the Blagojevich verdict…
“I’m so nervous, I can’t eat. I can’t sleep,” he says. “I’m dead tired, so it’s tough to stay focused. I’m sort of a wreck.” […]
In the end, Adam says he gave “about 70 percent” of his planned closing. During his final argument Tuesday, Adam apologized to the jury for rambling. On Friday, three days later, he was still analyzing his performance.
“Of course you second-guess yourself,” he says. “I have nothing to do but wait. So I replay the entire trial in my head and wonder if I should have done something differently. But I believe I did the best I could.”
On Thursday, the first full day of deliberations, Adam says he sat in his Woodlawn office and watched his computer screen as a slideshow of his two children played on an endless loop. The jury sent a note around 10:30 a.m. apparently asking for the transcript of the prosecution’s closing. Adam says he and his father, Sam Adam Sr., who defended the case with him, spent an hour or so debating its possible meaning before deciding they couldn’t possibly know.
Watch the Trib’s video, though, and you see true torment. The Trib didn’t use some of the best Adam quotes…
“If we lose this case, to some degree it’s true it’s my fault.”
“I know that family. I know Annie, I know Amy, I know Patti, I know Rod, very well. And to think of what’s going to happen, it’s a very nervous thing… I’m living a case in which this man is going to be taken away from his babies. Taken away from his babies. Of course I’m nervous about that. And that my f-f-f-failures. or my bad decisions, or my ability, or should I say non-ability, to make the jury see what I see, of course that makes me nervous. If this happens it goes on me.”
“You very well may have a technical violation of the law. You may… All I can tell you is I did the best that I can… This is politics, this is politics as usual. Maybe I lose that argument, I’ll be the first to say ‘OK, I couldn’t make the sale.’”
* Roundup…
* Morning hearing canceled, jury back for day 4
* A corruption verdict and 12 angry voters
* If only big brother Rob had given brotherly advice
* Blagojevich die-hards small, but loyal
* Blagojevich on corruption: In his own words
* Don’t be so hard on Rod
* Me on Rod B: The early years
* The lighter side of the Blagojevich trial
* Northwest Indiana Serbs Awaiting Blagojevich Verdict
posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Aug 2, 10 @ 11:45 am
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What about the people of Illinois torment? The last 8 years have been a disaster.
Comment by Northside Bunker Monday, Aug 2, 10 @ 11:51 am
Rod Blagojevich is the most honest politician in Illinois
Comment by Anon Monday, Aug 2, 10 @ 11:58 am
I think the Trib article is curious. Why all of the sudden is Sam Jr. publicly wavering in confidence? I find it hard to believe that this isn’t some conspiracy to sway jurors who aren’t supposed to be reading the newspapers about this trial. . .
Comment by tubbfan Monday, Aug 2, 10 @ 12:05 pm
… I can’t eat.” he [Adam} says.
The Blago Diet. All Ham, No Beef
Comment by Cincinnatus Monday, Aug 2, 10 @ 12:07 pm
I was curious if Rod will be one of the ‘heroes’ on his wall?
Comment by OneMan Monday, Aug 2, 10 @ 12:07 pm
I’m sure that Sam worked a little pain and suffering into his bill for services rendered.
Comment by Aldyth Monday, Aug 2, 10 @ 12:15 pm
Every lawyer who does jury trials worries over strategic decisions and what could have been done differently while waiting for the jury to come back. What is weird is that this is a news story. Does make one wonder if he is hoping this reaches the jurors. One last shot at some sympthy for Blago the Doting Daddy.
Comment by girllawyer Monday, Aug 2, 10 @ 12:19 pm
I really cannot understand why this story is on the front page, unless Adams did grease the wheel with the Trib.
Most of my friends in the legal profession in Chiago say he is woefully ignorant of the law, but a master manipulator of the media and juries. The master at work.
Comment by Mr. Cow Monday, Aug 2, 10 @ 12:19 pm
If found guilty will Rod be alowed to stay out of jail?
Comment by Just Because Monday, Aug 2, 10 @ 12:22 pm
Waiting for a decision is the most frustrating part of being a lawyer. Suddenly, your input is over and you just wait. I don’t do criminal work, but I get where he is coming from.
Comment by Louis G. Atsaves Monday, Aug 2, 10 @ 12:22 pm
If the Sam Adam Jr (and company) had put as much effort into trying their case in Federal court as they have in the court of public opinion, he might not be wondering if he could have better served his client. And he’s still doing it.
Comment by Wensisia Monday, Aug 2, 10 @ 12:26 pm
we’re 13 weeks out from 2 major races for governor and senator and this defense attorney has gotten more ink than some of the 4 major candidates. There’s been virtually no coverage of the differences between the 4 on a series of issues and a story about where this guy is going fishing really doesn’t serve anyone’s interest.
Comment by Anonymous Monday, Aug 2, 10 @ 12:34 pm
Is Mr. Adam trying to get on the next Celebrity Apprentice? That is the kind of work he succeeds at doing, right?
Comment by VanillaMan Monday, Aug 2, 10 @ 12:35 pm
So is Sam actually getting paid?
Comment by Joseph Monday, Aug 2, 10 @ 12:35 pm
Hopefully Sam and Rod’s torment will become Illinois salvation.
Comment by Wacker Drive Monday, Aug 2, 10 @ 12:41 pm
Well, Rich, if the jury is still out Friday, you can go with “The Waiting” by Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers for song of the week.
Comment by Anonymous Monday, Aug 2, 10 @ 12:48 pm
I am not a big fan o the Adams family, overall in my oppinion their legal repuation is a it inflated.
That said, in my experience the attorneys who take their cases personnaly tend to be the best and the ones you want in your corner. So I may have to rethink my oppinion of JR, he looks to be taking this personaly.
Comment by Ghost Monday, Aug 2, 10 @ 1:03 pm
Now we are suppose to feel sorry for Sam and company.
What about all the people who suffered under Blagojevich’s reign of corruption?
Hopefully the jurors will be smart enough to see through Sam’s lame defense and theatrics.
Comment by Suspicious Activity Report Monday, Aug 2, 10 @ 1:13 pm
girlawyers is right to a degree.
I spend pretty much every minute after the jury goes out in complete panic. Win or lose, I replay stuff in the trial for months (worse if I lose).
But I do think it is newsworthy. I have the impression that most people think that when trial is done for the day, the lawyers just go home (or to a bar). During trial, I often work 20+ hour days and barely eat. I thought the article gave some decent insight into what it is like.
Comment by Skeeter Monday, Aug 2, 10 @ 1:20 pm
Why is Sam Jr. worrying, He said it was slam dunk.
Comment by Northside Bunker Monday, Aug 2, 10 @ 1:24 pm
==What about all the people who suffered under Blagojevich’s reign==
You must be talking about Madigan, Daley, and the rest of the hacks. The real people did pretty well during the Blagojevich administration… or at least better than they are doing now.
As far as Adams is concerned he is not over rated if he wins which he usually does. He has a real good chance of winning this case which will make his practice expand exponentially. Even if the unthinkable happens and he loses I’d still want him on my side in court.
Comment by Bill Monday, Aug 2, 10 @ 1:38 pm
Leave it to Bill to always pick the wrong side.
Adam has very good reason to be worried and second guessing. He did a lousy job. Put on a lousy case. Failed in setting proper expectations for the jury and instead made repeated promises he couldn’t keep.
Guilty on a majority if not all counts. Minimum 12 years.
Comment by Chicago Cynic Monday, Aug 2, 10 @ 1:47 pm
Oh, and despite my contempt for Rod, most of this case was defensible. Adam repeatedly missed his opportunities. It was a disgraceful performance. He should feel guilty when Rod goes away.
Rod’s biggest mistake? Listening to and hiring the Adams’ over Ed Genson. They deserve each other.
Comment by Chicago Cynic Monday, Aug 2, 10 @ 1:49 pm
He should worry. He didn’t put on a defense. He also built up the jurors to anticipate a defense and then folded like a house of cards. It wouldn’t have taken much to tell the jurors that the only way we won’t put up a defense is if the feds don’t come close to proving their case.
Most lawyers will tell you that the jurors read and listen to the news about the case-no matter what-so leaked stories that Blago was doing miserable in cross testing isn’t good.
I know there is a school of thought that the defense purposely led the prosecution into believing they would get to cross Blago and it was all part of a master strategy to trick the feds but I think the prosecution had more than enough evidence for the jurors to eagerly anticipate the other side of the story.
The bottom line is it wouldn’t have taken much to control some pretty devastating damage. Anyway, will know soon enough.
Comment by Phineas J. Whoopee Monday, Aug 2, 10 @ 1:53 pm
I lean more towards CC. There were a number of opportunities which were missed IMHO by the defense team. They seemed so rapped up in a theatrical presenation that they missed some good opportunities to bring in reeant facts and witnesses. The same with Closing argument. Federal Court is itsown animal, there are a number of Def atorneys with fed experince who I beleie would have put up a better defense.
Comment by Ghost Monday, Aug 2, 10 @ 1:55 pm
Ghost, dude, please, please fix your keyboard or slow the heck down. Your typos are getting worse with every comment. Just sayin…
Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Aug 2, 10 @ 1:57 pm
So is his/her logic.
Comment by Bill Monday, Aug 2, 10 @ 2:01 pm
Come ON, Sam, you didn’t haul the One Ring up to Mount Doom; you tried your best distraction dance to minimize the hurtin’ we all know your client is well-deserving of. This is not “A few Good Men”, and you are not Tom Cruise. The show we saw in court was more like “My Cousin Vinnie”.
Comment by Newsclown Monday, Aug 2, 10 @ 2:37 pm
What we saw in court was reality setting in quicker than anticipated.
Comment by Way Way Down Here Monday, Aug 2, 10 @ 2:45 pm
Sam Adam could step on to a soap opera set tomorrow and be at home. I’m not supposed to tell you’re giving a performance, Sam. That was ham-fisted to say the least.
Comment by Eloquent Thespian Monday, Aug 2, 10 @ 2:50 pm
I’ll go for the slow
Comment by Ghost Monday, Aug 2, 10 @ 3:10 pm
Sam Adam Jr. doing his best Jerry Maguire, puh-leeze
Comment by Michelle Flaherty Monday, Aug 2, 10 @ 4:18 pm
1. The Tribune is going into Blago withdrawal.
2. Sam clearly thinks this case is all about him. How about the public, Sammy?
Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Monday, Aug 2, 10 @ 5:05 pm
Sam Jr should be selling late model Toyotas - something similar to defending Rod … throwing a man’s life away. The lack of professionalism in that courtroom from Rod’s defense team was appalling. Admittedly, even Perry Mason would not be able to get Blago off the hook for jail time. But what a shallow man, Rod, selecting such a shallow defense team. Sam is a ham - both of them, laughing all the way to the bank with Blago’s campaign funds.
Comment by springpatchproud Monday, Aug 2, 10 @ 5:09 pm
The article came accross as sincere…makes him look like a real guy. I’ve had that soda lunch myself several times. Trial just screws up the plumbing.
BUT. Sam…you didn’t put one thing into evidence. If you lose, that’s the reason. Probably good judgment not to, but still….
Comment by Park Monday, Aug 2, 10 @ 6:35 pm
As long as some are making movie references, the one that comes to my mind is The Devil’s Advocate.
Comment by Excessively Rabid Monday, Aug 2, 10 @ 7:25 pm
If we’re lucky, we won’t have Blago to kick-around anymore!
Comment by HatShopGirl Monday, Aug 2, 10 @ 8:59 pm