Let's make John Ford a "real" person

This case has taken on a life of it's own. It's been covered in the media extensively and the high profile people who have been indicted have surprised many of the public.

The thing attorney Michael Scholl wants the jurors to remember is that this is a trial of a person. He tells them that yes, it may have to do with public corruption and yes, the media has been playing it up. But at the bottom of it all, this particular trial has to do with one person.

"Let's make John Ford a person," says Scholl. "Let's make him a real person like you or me. Is that tough to do?"

The jurors didn't answer so Scholl continued. "What do you think it takes to be a good juror?"

This question they could answer. One man stated that to be a good juror you needed to put aside biased and personal opinions. You also had to be able to listen to everything that's being said.

But it comes down to more than that. Scholl wanted to make sure they knew what unbiased really meant and what could make a person biased. In addition to political beliefs, race and person opinion, the media was also mentioned.

"Do you believe that there is one side of the case has not been followed?" Scholl asked one juror. He then asked the rest of them. "Is the media biased? How many people here think the media is one-sided?"

The jurors agreed that the media may be biased and their opinions shouldn't come from there -- even though many of them had read the newspaper or heard something about the trial before today.

But that wasn't enough. Scholl wanted to make sure they understood that as a juror, they have to forget what they know -- and formulate opinions only from what they hear from the witness stand.

He brought one female juror up the stand. She had admitted to reading the newspaper prior to this morning's court date.

Scholl wanted to know:

"Have you formulated any opinion regarding this case?"
"No sir."

Would you sign this case only by what you hear on the witness stand?
"Yes sir."

He grilled her a little more on this issue and then thanked her for her time.