Here is an update on an earlier post about the juror in the William Cellini extortion trial who failed to disclose that she had prior felony convictions. The judge handling the case has ordered an evidentiary hearing for Dec. 1st. The judge in his four page ruling pointed out however that the verdict will not be overturned just because the juror failed to disclose her prior record.
"When a felon slips through the juror screening process, does that felon's service on the jury lead to automatic mistrial? Every federal court of appeal that has addressed this issue has answered 'no'"
The judge went on to state that the defendant must show that the juror held an actual bias. According to the judge, "[i]t is the defendant's burden to cast sufficient doubt on the juror's impartiality."
Chicago Sun Times: Judge: Cellini juror's undisclosed past might not mean a mistrial
WBEZ: Judge wants to know more about Cellini juror
Comments