They must be idiots!
Or not. Turns out they have decision on two counts, haven’t figured out any of the wire fraud counts and are deadlocked on probably 9 counts.
This is a very complex case with lots of difficult information to go through. I’d be shocked if the jury had decided on many of the complex charges and they largely haven’t. Even being deadlocked on 9 (or 11) isn’t that big of a deal right now. What they probably don’t realize is how long this is going to take and a big case like this is that the jury will have to return to some charges and some probably will come back deadlocked or acquitted. Instead of panicking or declaring the jurors idiots or the prosecutors incompetent, just wait for it to play out. The jurors are completely new to this and don’t have the same expectations that we do and they don’t have the same experience and vocabulary for courts meaning they are going to say things that seem strange to many of us who obsess over these matters.
Yes and no—it is a complex case but for a jury to have deliberated for 9 or 10 days and have accomplished only a verdict on 2 counts is somewhat disturbing. Just what are they doing in there? They have not asked for further instruction or clarification and I believe that would be the norm. We do not tell juries how to deliberate but I have never seen one act in the manner that this jury is acting.
Their note to Judge Zagel was clearly indicative of some problems.
See what you think of my next post. I may be completely off, but as we are all guessing somewhat, I’d be interesting in your thoughts.