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This is interesting spin. “Don’t investigate others because I could get dragged into it.”
One of the jurors who convicted former Gov. George Ryan of racketeering and fraud jumped into the tormented aftermath of his trial Wednesday, telling a federal judge that the proceedings “are degenerating into a tug of war with the jury as the rope.”“Ms. Losacco’s desire is to return to a normal life outside of the media and the judicial spotlight,” said attorneys for juror Leslie Losacco in a brief filed with the court.
They said interviews with dismissed juror Evelyn Ezell requested by Ryan’s defense team would be guaranteed to set off a chain reaction of events leading to a heavily spotlighted hearing on possible juror misconduct — wrecking Losacco’s hope to get back to her private life.
“Unlike Ms. Ezell, Ms. Losacco has turned down the opportunity to (get) her 15 minutes of fame — she has given no interviews,” attorney James A. Murphy said in a six-page memorandum.
posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, May 4, 06 @ 5:13 am
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The nerve! The desire for a juror ro be left alone after a trial finishes.
Let this be a lesson to all you independent thinkers out there - get dragged into jury duty on a high profile case which doesn’t come up with the right verdict, your privacy is going to suffer in an attempt to reverse that verdict.
Especially if the defendant has to keep a story rolling to rehabilitate his public image, and has the money, power and friends to do it. You will merely be a pawn in his game.
Comment by Leroy Thursday, May 4, 06 @ 6:22 am
When I get called for jury duty again, I am going to respond to any question that’s asked of me:
“I am in love with the defendant. And judge, you’re kind of cute, too.”
Comment by Anonymous Thursday, May 4, 06 @ 7:05 am
This is why the jury room is off limits. Of our entire judicial system, what goes on in the jury room is what we know the least about. If they overturn this, they open the doors of the jury room to the arena of public opinion. If they do that, good luck swearing in a jury. In short, I think a lot of people will just tell the judge they would rather be held in contempt for not showing, then have the media pick through their lives.
Comment by the Patriot Thursday, May 4, 06 @ 8:16 am
Others have proven that I have lied, cheated, committed fraud, and broke the law throughout the many years of my professional career but I must be found innocent of all that because a member of the jury that convicted me might have said something wrong during my trial. I will try to weasel out of anything I can because I always got away with it up to now. Let him rot.
Comment by zatoichi Thursday, May 4, 06 @ 8:19 am
Good comments to this post from other folks.
George Ryan is attacking the jury.
If that doesn’t work, then he’ll attack the judge.
If that doesn’t work, then he’ll attack the prosecutors.
But at no time will George Ryan attack the facts.
George Ryan is a loser who yells he lost because of bad refs and bad calls. Don’t blame the refs, George - YOU were the one who put yourself in the situation to lose.
Comment by Scott Fawell's Cellmate Thursday, May 4, 06 @ 9:35 am
Regardless of his outcome, government should take corrective action so the public is better protected from abuses of power…that is the most important outcome!
Comment by Anonymous Thursday, May 4, 06 @ 10:02 am
I am in total agreement with Scott Fawell’s Cellmate.
Throughout his entire public career George Ryan has had one standard defense when someone dares to rise up and oppose him, a search and destroy mission against that person.
The thought of acknowledging his wrongdoing never crosses his mind, even after being found guilty. Typical George, all attack, no responsibility.
Comment by Navin Johnson Thursday, May 4, 06 @ 12:38 pm
The dumbing down of America continues.
The central problem is that the Jurors were not truthful on their questionnaires.
So instead of addressing that problem, everyone is looking for excuses for them.
Another example of solving a problem by ignoring it.
Comment by True Observer Thursday, May 4, 06 @ 1:49 pm
I’d argue that the duming down of America is best evidenced by the political insiders inability to understand that George Ryan committed crimes and business as usual is illegal.
The “problem” is being addressed, hence all the motions and arguments in front of Judge Pallmayer. The 7th Circuit will review the inevitable appeal. Maybe the verdict will be overturned, maybe it won’t.
Given the front page headlines on every new development in the quest to blame the jury, I don’t think anyone has to worry about the problem fading away.
Those who rightly felt Ryan was a crook had to wait eight years for a verdict. Those who feel the jurors are the real villians in this story will get an answer far sooner.
Comment by Navin Johnson Thursday, May 4, 06 @ 2:07 pm
THIS WHOLE ORDEAL WITH THE JURY WILL LEAD TO THE MISTRIAL.
YOU HAVE THE DEFENSE WHO HAVE A RIGHT TO HAVE EZELL QUESTIONED; WHICH COULD OPEN UP THE DOOR TO OTHER JURORS BEING QUESTIONED.
YOU HAVE THE PROSECUTION WHO OBJECTS TO QUESTIONING THE JURORS AND PUTTING THEM ON FURTHER SCRUTINY.
YOU HAVE A JUROR, EZELL WHO HAS ADMITTED TO IMPROPRIETIES OF THE JURY. YOU HAVE A JUROR WHO HAS FILED A MOTION AS A FRIEND OF THE COURT (THIS IS VERY UNUSUAL AND WAS OUT OF LINE NOT TO MENTION A CONFLICT OF INTEREST). DID HER ATTORNEY FILE AN APPEARANCE? IF HE DID, HOW AND WHEN DID JURORS BECOME A PARTY TO THE CASE; THIS IS A CONFLICT OF INTEREST FOR A JUROR TO INTERVENE IN POST-TRIAL MOTIONS WITH A MOTION ASKING THE COURT TO PREJUDICE GEORGE RYAN AND NOT ALLOW QUESTIONING OF THE JURORS.
AT THIS POINT WITH ALL THE LEGAL DRAMA AND THE TUG OF WARS THAT WILL LEAD TO A MISTRIAL, PATRICK FITZGERALD SHOULD CONCEDED TO A MISTRIAL.
AS A GOVERNMENT ATTORNEY HE HAS AN OBLIGATION TO PROTECT THE RIGHTS OF THE DEFENDANT AS ANY OTHER CITIZEN. HE IS THE TWO-FOLD AIM OF THAT WHICH INNOCENSE SHALL NOT SUFFER WHILE GUILT ESCAPES.
Berger v. Washington
Giving all of the recent development which proves that the jury deliberations were impartial, to further fight a mistrial would look terrible on the part of Patrick Fitzgerald and looks as if the prosecution of the case was not to ensure justice, but a personal attack.
Comment by One Man Can Make A Difference Thursday, May 4, 06 @ 2:59 pm
Fitz will “concede” a mistrial as soon as Ryan admits his responsibility for his own criminal conduct, which is to say never.
I’ll let Judge Pallmeyer and the 7th Circuit decide whether the verdict stands or not.
Comment by One Man Can Use Lower Case Thursday, May 4, 06 @ 8:09 pm
As someone who knows the truth, I find it humorous that most all responses posted are not in favor with the person who made the remark. The brief was not filed as your statement suggests, which is don’t investigate others, as I may be dragged into it’. It simply states that their civic duty is done, enough is enough.
Comment by ZipIt Monday, May 8, 06 @ 7:50 pm