SubscribeLibby Judge Doesn’t Understand Jury’s Question
From an anxious Associated Press:
Judge Replies to Jury Note in Libby Case
By MICHAEL J. SNIFFEN, Associated Press Writer
Wednesday, February 28, 2007
(02-28) WASHINGTON (AP) — One week into their deliberations, jurors in the CIA leak trial had a question for the judge. The judge responded with a question of his own: What do you mean?
Jurors passed a note to U.S. District Judge Reggie B. Walton at the end of the day Tuesday. Walton took the bench Wednesday morning and, without saying what the question was, told attorneys he didn’t understand it.
“I have some questions in my mind as to exactly what the jury is asking me,” Walton said. “I’m going to send a note back to the jury indicating I’m not exactly certain what you’re asking and can you please clarify.”
The question could provide the first clue about the deliberations in the case of former White House aide I. Lewis “Scooter” Libby. Since getting the case last Wednesday, jurors had asked no questions, only requesting office supplies.
Defense attorney and prosecutors have reviewed the note but did not discuss it’s [sic] contents. Defense attorney Theodore Wells said he and prosecutors believe they understand the note and proposed similar responses. But Walton said he wanted to be sure…
It’s hard not to cast aspersions sometimes. But really, who is dumb and who is dumber?
Meanwhile, another day goes by. (And how many dollars?)
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11 Responses to “Libby Judge Doesn’t Understand Jury’s Question”
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February 28th, 2007 at 3:17 pm
Okay, okay, it’s been a long time since I’ve been involved in this kind of stuff, but why couldn’t the judge just enter the jury room and say, “what’dya mean”? Afterall, isn’t it his jury?
February 28th, 2007 at 4:10 pm
Who appointed this genius? Carter or Clinton?
February 28th, 2007 at 8:37 pm
Appointed by GWB. Response to Lurkin: sometimes it depends on the local court rules, but in general the judge can’t have any contact with the jury outside the presence of the prosecution and defense, and since they have begun deliberations already the prosecution and defense can’t have any contact with the jury at all because it might introduce considerations outside the scope of what was presented at trial. By using written communication, the judge can share that with the prosecution and defense, and they can argue over what his official written response should be outside the presence of the jury. It’s all to prevent the jury from considering any information that wasn’t properly presented at trial.
February 28th, 2007 at 9:54 pm
This is speculation, but because of what I think were mistaken rulings made by the Judge excluding certain evidence (such as what was the non-covert status of Plame), the jury may have asked a question that the Judge did not want to answer because it went into an area of excluded evidence.
February 28th, 2007 at 10:37 pm
Thanks haze. I still don’t understand WTF this is all about…if it was a conservative sending her husband over on a mission to find exactly what she wanted him to find the MSM would be screaming.
February 28th, 2007 at 10:39 pm
Phil Byler.
I hope your right, But why not just simply say that?
Then again they may have asked help with 2+2.
February 28th, 2007 at 11:12 pm
The note read: “What the F*** are we doing here? Can’t you just put Cheney on trial against humanity to prove your point?”.
February 28th, 2007 at 11:35 pm
…The note read: “What the F*** are we doing here? Can’t you just put Cheney on trial against humanity to prove your point?”…
Now thats funny, Or true, Maybe the sad truth.
March 1st, 2007 at 7:57 am
“Who is dumb and who is dumber” - well Michael J Sniffen or his editor are pretty dumb. Certainly a journalist should know where (or not) to include an apostrophe…..
I know it’s (correct usage of apostrophe here) completely off the point, but it’s something that really pisses me off to see from someone who should know better. Sorry for the rant
March 1st, 2007 at 4:47 pm
I saw the note!!!!!!
It said, “Can we please kill juror #7? We are hopelessly deadlocked at 11-1 to acquit Scoots and charge Fitz with wasting time and money on a boondoggle and all this liberal, Birkenstock wearing asshat wants to do is sit here and eat more baloney sandwiches and swill juice boxes.”
Reggie is not sure if he allows the killing if he can get on Judge Shiney’s court TV show.
VoR
March 2nd, 2007 at 2:19 pm
Here come da’ judge!!