Prosecutors were clearly irritated with Rod Blagojevich this morning for statements he made on a morning newcast. Prosecutor Reid Schar called the former governor's comments a "complete fabrication" and asked the court for a remedy.    

 

Schar stated that Blagojevich's recent comments alleging the judge has no descretion to change the orders  and placing blame on prosecutors for not releasing all the tapes along with his recent public tour is "part of an attempt to poison what is going on." Presumably the potential jurors.    

Voir dire is expected to begin at 10 a.m. Thursday. Blagojevich will be there. This jury selection process will take several days and takes place in open court.

 

Opening statements are anticipated to begin next Wednesday.

 

There is no court this Friday.

 

The questionnaire is reportedly 38 pages long and consists of 70-80 questions.

 

It will be released to us, the media, after the jury is seated.

 

Julie Unruh will be LIVE at Dirksen Federal at 5 p.m. today - catch her full report then.

 

Tomorrow is the big day.

A low key entrance to the courtroom today for Rod Blagojevich who this time was playing to a much smaller audience mainly consisting of reporters.  

 

Ex-governor Blagojevich stopped to chat with a TV sketch artist who was holding a portait of Blagojevich.

Continue reading Blagojevich makes first appearance at retrial »

Jury selection is underway in the corruption trial of former Illinois Governor, Rod Blagojevich.

 

So far, three people been selected.

 

1.) A Caucasian female who works in radio promotions

 

2.) An African American  retired forklift operator who said, "everybody(on trial) is guilty" - he lost a son in 1981 and the killer got probation.

 

3.) An African American woman who is worried about how the length and timing of the trial might affect her income. She works nights.

 

At least one potential juror admitted to Judge Zagel that he does not hold the defendant in high regard, but still believes he can be a fair juror.

 

Jury selection continued this afternoon with a handful of jurors saying based on the last trial and media accounts they believe Rod Blagojevich is guilty. 

 

One potential juror told Judge Zagel he "got away with it."

 

Another stated on a questionnaire, that every chance he gets he says he will testify and told the judge that "in this trial if he didn't testify it would be somewhere in my mind."

Proceedings will pick up again Monday morning at 930.

Day two of jury selection is underway in the second trial for former Governor Rod Blagojevich.

 

This time with much less fanfare. 

 

The governor said "hello" to reporters just outside the courtroom but it would appear that public interest has waned at least where jury selection is concerned.  

 

Where it was once difficult to get a seat there is now plenty of room in the courtroom.  

Update 4:30pm:  At least 25 more potential jurors were questioned today in the re-trial of former Governor Rod Blagojevich.  

As the judge and attorneys sifted though possibilities they recalled one woman who has  tickets to the Oprah show which is in its last season.  Judge Zagel told the attorney's "everyone in here knows the juror will survive" prompting laughter in the courtroom.

----

Jury deliberations picked up this afternoon with one man telling the Judge that his  brother lives just 6 houses away from defendant Rod Blagojevich.  

Another potential juror once ran for public office in another state and lost.   

Jury selection is expected to conclude midweek.

The former jury foreman of Rod Blagojevich's first trial made an appearance in court today. 

 

James Matsumoto told WGN that he feels there is "unfinished business" and wants to see the juror selection process firsthand.

 

He also said he would advise the jurors to speak to the media afterward and understands the curiousity surrounding the case.

 

Matsumoto says he plans to attend the trial periodically.

Jury selection continues this afternoon in Rod Blagojevich's retrial. 

 

This morning a dozen people were questioned and asked if they believe they could be fair in this case. One juror said he believed he had the ability to be fair. 

 

After further questioning, he revealed to the court that he did download the now famous "I've got this thing and it's bleeping golden" audio quote from a Web site and uses it as his cell phone ring tone.