It also appears the jury room was a bit warm. The judge says they're working on making it more comfortable for the jurors.
"Please do not read anything about what's been going on" the judge tells the jurors.
The jury is now excused for the night.
They'll be back to deliberate at 9:30 a.m. Thursday morning.
Now the judge is discussing how to accommodate the jurors request to see undercover recordings with subtitles.
"I'm going to ask my courtroom deputy to go into the jury room and ask them to submit on a sheet of paper which transcripts ... they want, and then we'll make copies," says the judge.
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
Simple as that
The judge has just entered the courtroom, telling us the jury has requested to go home from the evening.
Right now they're sorting out technical equipment. The jury wants the capability to see video evidence that includes subtitles.
Simple as that.
Looks like John Ford will have to wait at least another night to learn the verdict in his case.
Right now they're sorting out technical equipment. The jury wants the capability to see video evidence that includes subtitles.
Simple as that.
Looks like John Ford will have to wait at least another night to learn the verdict in his case.
Ford is Back
John Ford and his attorney Michael Scholl have just arrived.
Still no word yet on what we should expect to happen.
Still no word yet on what we should expect to happen.
Back to Court
Nobody will say for sure what's going on right now, but a security officer with the court has just told everyone waiting in the hallway they are now allowed to gather back in the courtroom.
It could be as simple as learning that the jury wants to go home for the night. Of course ... it could be more.
I'll let you know.
It could be as simple as learning that the jury wants to go home for the night. Of course ... it could be more.
I'll let you know.
Hurry up and wait ... again.
Journalists from across the state are now anxiously awaiting the jury's verdict.
Of course there are several possibilities here. Jurors have five counts to consider, and they all must agree on the verdict.
The judge has opened the door for questions.
He told the jurors to select a foreperson, then to start deliberating.
He instructed the jury to hand any questions to a court security officer, who would then contact the judge.
There are dozens of undercover tapes, piles of transcripts and days worth of testimony to consider.
Your guess is as good as any right now as to when the jury will come back with a verdict. It could be minutes ... or days.
We'll be here.
Of course there are several possibilities here. Jurors have five counts to consider, and they all must agree on the verdict.
The judge has opened the door for questions.
He told the jurors to select a foreperson, then to start deliberating.
He instructed the jury to hand any questions to a court security officer, who would then contact the judge.
There are dozens of undercover tapes, piles of transcripts and days worth of testimony to consider.
Your guess is as good as any right now as to when the jury will come back with a verdict. It could be minutes ... or days.
We'll be here.
Time to consider the counts
The John Ford Tennessee Waltz case is now in the hands of the jury. The last two alternates have been dismissed.
Court is in recess.
The jury will consider five counts against the former lawmaker:
1. Extortion
2. Bribery
3. Intimidation
4. Intimidation
5. Intimidation
Court is in recess.
The jury will consider five counts against the former lawmaker:
1. Extortion
2. Bribery
3. Intimidation
4. Intimidation
5. Intimidation
Closing Arguments Over
The judge is now reading the jury its instructions. He says this could take about 45 minutes.
We then expect the jury will take a break, then begin deliberating.
We then expect the jury will take a break, then begin deliberating.
"What price do you pay?"
"The government has spent a lot of money. Yes," says prosecutor Lorraine Craig. "How expensive was it? Very. What price do you put on a corrupt free government. How priceless is that?"
Craig is responding to Scholl's closing in which he repeatedly referred to how much money the government spent on the undercover operation.
"Do justice in this case ladies and gentlemen," Craig tells the jury. "Do justice in this case. Hold him accountable. Return a verdict of guilty."
Craig wraps up.
Craig is responding to Scholl's closing in which he repeatedly referred to how much money the government spent on the undercover operation.
"Do justice in this case ladies and gentlemen," Craig tells the jury. "Do justice in this case. Hold him accountable. Return a verdict of guilty."
Craig wraps up.
Entrapment?
Craig tells the jurors there is no evidence of entrapment.
Craig says the investigation, Operation Tennessee Waltz, was not set up to target John Ford.
"He starts selling himself," Craig says referring to Ford.
Craig says the investigation, Operation Tennessee Waltz, was not set up to target John Ford.
"He starts selling himself," Craig says referring to Ford.
Tune in at Noon
After Prosecutor Lorraine Craig wraps up with the jury, we expect the judge to charge the jury.
Mike Matthews will have a live report on News-Channel 3 at Noon.
Mike Matthews will have a live report on News-Channel 3 at Noon.
Don't "Close your eyes to the evidence."
"Every time they're alone, they're only talking about E-Cycle. They don't talk about it in front of other people," says Craig.
Craig is trying to convince the jurors Ford knew that what he was doing was criminal, and he didn't want anyone to know about the transactions taking place.
Craig brings up a payment made in the downtown E-Cycle office where she says Ford was acting nervous, looking around the office for video cameras.
"He's afraid he's being recorded," she says.
She tells the jurors Ford doesn't casually pick up the payment, but instead wraps it up in a newspaper and takes the cash.
"I urge you to compare that video payment with the ones that preceded it," says Craig.
"He (Scholl) wants you to close your eyes to the evidence," says Craig.
Craig is trying to convince the jurors Ford knew that what he was doing was criminal, and he didn't want anyone to know about the transactions taking place.
Craig brings up a payment made in the downtown E-Cycle office where she says Ford was acting nervous, looking around the office for video cameras.
"He's afraid he's being recorded," she says.
She tells the jurors Ford doesn't casually pick up the payment, but instead wraps it up in a newspaper and takes the cash.
"I urge you to compare that video payment with the ones that preceded it," says Craig.
"He (Scholl) wants you to close your eyes to the evidence," says Craig.
We're Back
The prosecution is getting its last chance to talk with the jury.
Prosecutor Lorraine Craig is emphatically telling the jury that undercover agents recorded everything they could, when they could.
"You don't want to get caught. You use it sparingly," Craig says referring to a hidden camera agents used that attached to a button on an undercover agent's shirt.
Prosecutor Lorraine Craig is emphatically telling the jury that undercover agents recorded everything they could, when they could.
"You don't want to get caught. You use it sparingly," Craig says referring to a hidden camera agents used that attached to a button on an undercover agent's shirt.
Break Time
The court is now in recess for 15 minutes. When the jury comes back, we expect to hear the government's final comments.
At this pace, I'd expect the jury will have the case around 11:30. Of course, sometimes it takes a while for the judge to charge the jury. The judge will have to read through all the rules.
A class from ITT Tech School of Criminal Justice is in the courtroom today. Their professor tells me there's no better way to learn about the justice system than to see it first hand.
Ford spent the break shaking some of the students' hands. He also spoke with his daughter, and other supporters.
Speculation is already swirling about just how long it will take for the jury to come up with a verdict once they get the case. Not even the most experienced lawyers are ever willing to give you a guess on how long a jury will take to decide.
We'll see.
At this pace, I'd expect the jury will have the case around 11:30. Of course, sometimes it takes a while for the judge to charge the jury. The judge will have to read through all the rules.
A class from ITT Tech School of Criminal Justice is in the courtroom today. Their professor tells me there's no better way to learn about the justice system than to see it first hand.
Ford spent the break shaking some of the students' hands. He also spoke with his daughter, and other supporters.
Speculation is already swirling about just how long it will take for the jury to come up with a verdict once they get the case. Not even the most experienced lawyers are ever willing to give you a guess on how long a jury will take to decide.
We'll see.
Scholl Wraps Up
Scholl wraps things up by saying the following:
"Ladies and gentlemen, you have been given a tremendous, tremendous challenge. You have to go back as an individual in this case," Scholl tells the jury. "Don't let the government pile on and pile on. You have the power as individual jurors to let your voice be heard. I think ... you'll find the government has not proven their case beyond a reasonable doubt."
"Ladies and gentlemen, you have been given a tremendous, tremendous challenge. You have to go back as an individual in this case," Scholl tells the jury. "Don't let the government pile on and pile on. You have the power as individual jurors to let your voice be heard. I think ... you'll find the government has not proven their case beyond a reasonable doubt."
The Threats
You'll remember the government accuses Ford of making threats against government witnesses.
Tim Willis, who worked as an undercover informant on the case, testified Ford threatened to kill him.
The conversation was recorded and played as evidence during the case.
"If you take and you go and record covnversations between me and my friends on the golf course, there's no telling what you'd hear," Scholl says.
"Listen to how things are said. Do you believe Tim Willis thinks he's threatened? Tim Willis will say anything that he gets paid to say on that witness stand," says Scholl.
"Listen to the context of the conversation. Listen to how they were talking," says Scholl. "They want to make you think this is something different."
Tim Willis, who worked as an undercover informant on the case, testified Ford threatened to kill him.
The conversation was recorded and played as evidence during the case.
"If you take and you go and record covnversations between me and my friends on the golf course, there's no telling what you'd hear," Scholl says.
"Listen to how things are said. Do you believe Tim Willis thinks he's threatened? Tim Willis will say anything that he gets paid to say on that witness stand," says Scholl.
"Listen to the context of the conversation. Listen to how they were talking," says Scholl. "They want to make you think this is something different."
Full House
The prosecution's closing argument centered heavily on replaying undercover audio and video recordings.
So far, Scholl has told the jury he does not plan on playing many tapes.
Ford is sitting quietly, while the other lawyer on his defense team nods in agreement as Scholl speaks to the jury.
The courtroom is packed. It's a full house today. Ford's family members and friends are listening intently.
Scholl keeps coming back to the same line. "Let your voice be heard. Let your voice be heard," he tells the jury once again.
So far, Scholl has told the jury he does not plan on playing many tapes.
Ford is sitting quietly, while the other lawyer on his defense team nods in agreement as Scholl speaks to the jury.
The courtroom is packed. It's a full house today. Ford's family members and friends are listening intently.
Scholl keeps coming back to the same line. "Let your voice be heard. Let your voice be heard," he tells the jury once again.
"Give me a break."
"Everything they put up there has some convenient answer," Scholl tells the jury.
"Give me a break. It's the FBI. They take him down there first class," Scholl says referring to the now infamous trip to Miami.
Scholl is once again talking about all the money the government spent on the case. He has contended that Ford did not come into this willing, that he was entrapped.
"Give me a break. It's the FBI. They take him down there first class," Scholl says referring to the now infamous trip to Miami.
Scholl is once again talking about all the money the government spent on the case. He has contended that Ford did not come into this willing, that he was entrapped.
Money Money Money
Scholl is talking about the high cost of Operation Tennessee Waltz.
He talks about FBI informant Tim Willis who was paid more than $200,000 dollars by the government for his cooperation in this case.
"John Ford is a part time legislator. He's a full time consultant," Scholl says.
"Let your voice be heard," Scholl tells the jury again.
He talks about FBI informant Tim Willis who was paid more than $200,000 dollars by the government for his cooperation in this case.
"John Ford is a part time legislator. He's a full time consultant," Scholl says.
"Let your voice be heard," Scholl tells the jury again.
"Twist it around"
"Everyone that gets on that witness stand has an axe to grind with Mr. Ford," Scholl says.
"This is the FBI. This is not a ma' and pop organization. This is big stuff," Scholl says.
He's asking the jurors to be skeptical about why the undercover agents only recorderded certain conversations.
"That's twiting it around," Scholl says.
"This is the FBI. This is not a ma' and pop organization. This is big stuff," Scholl says.
He's asking the jurors to be skeptical about why the undercover agents only recorderded certain conversations.
"That's twiting it around," Scholl says.
"Let your voice be heard."
"The government spent hundreds of thousands of dollars to create the facts and the law so that Mr. Ford would be right there," Scholl tells the jury pointing at the former senator sitting in the courtroom. "Let your voice be heard," he says.
Scholl claims the government is trying to "twist things around" that agents only recorded what they wanted to record.
"This is a tremendously important trial," Scholl says.
Scholl claims the government is trying to "twist things around" that agents only recorded what they wanted to record.
"This is a tremendously important trial," Scholl says.
Let's bring the jury in
Good morning from the courtroom. The judge has just called for the jury. We're expecting Ford's defense attorney Michael Scholl to present his closing argument here in just minutes.
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