The courtroom is now clear except for the 16 chosen jurors, but the atmosphere in the room is far from a party attitude. It's somber and quiet.
Even though the 16 men and women look tired, their time in court is not over --in fact, the trial is only just beginning. They've now got to fulfill their duties as jurors and these consist of deciding the outcome of the case by reviewing the evidence, going over the facts and reaching a verdict.
It sounds simple enough, but unlike all those court shows shown on prime time, it's going to take a lot longer than hour to make a decision --and the decision they make is going to affect a man's life.
Over the next few weeks, these men and women will hear testimonies from a number of witnesses, they will review documents and evidence, and they will hear a number of statements from attorneys which are designed to sway their decision.
Judge Breen says there is three things to keep in mind:
1) The defendant is presumed innocent --an indictment is only an accusation.
2) The burden of proof is on the government --they have to prove John Ford is guilty.
3) If guilty, it must be proved beyond a reasonable doubt.
Tuesday, April 10, 2007
We have a winner!
"I'd like to excuse the rest of you in the courtroom."
As Judge Breen spoke these words you could feel the tension release. The remaining jurors finally released their breath --the same breath they've been holding since they were first walked in this morning. They were free to go. Jury selection was over.
The last person asked to approach the bench was a woman and finally both the prosecutors and the defense attorney were in agreement.
So in case you're keeping score, here's the final tally:
The 12 jury members are made up of 8 women and 8 men.
The 4 alternates jurors consist of 2 men and 2 women.
As Judge Breen spoke these words you could feel the tension release. The remaining jurors finally released their breath --the same breath they've been holding since they were first walked in this morning. They were free to go. Jury selection was over.
The last person asked to approach the bench was a woman and finally both the prosecutors and the defense attorney were in agreement.
So in case you're keeping score, here's the final tally:
The 12 jury members are made up of 8 women and 8 men.
The 4 alternates jurors consist of 2 men and 2 women.
You haven't missed a thing
If you've gone out for lunch and wondered if you missed something, I'm sorry to say, but no --you haven't missed a thing.
In fact, the entire court room looks exactly as it had three hours ago; John Ford is still reading what appears to be the same document since 9:00 am this morning, the attorneys are still gathered at the front of the room privately interviewing jurors on a one-by-one basis, and the rest of the court room is shifting in their seats and discreetly looking at their watches.
You can't really blame them. It's been a long two days and if any of the remaining possible jurors are chosen, they could be seeing the inside of this courtroom for the next three to four weeks. And, while they may have the inside scoop to what's going on in one of the hottest trials in Memphis so far this year, they won't be able to talk about it to anyone.
By the way, in case you've forgotten where we are in the jury selection process, we are still deciding on that one last final juror. The woman they had brought up to review in my last blog didn't make the cut and they've since looked at a few others.
This last juror is set to fill seat 13 and it certainly seems to be unlucky. They have gone through about seven possible jurors since this morning. None of them have appealed to the attorneys.
They are now talking to man in his late 20s. Keep your fingers crossed...
In fact, the entire court room looks exactly as it had three hours ago; John Ford is still reading what appears to be the same document since 9:00 am this morning, the attorneys are still gathered at the front of the room privately interviewing jurors on a one-by-one basis, and the rest of the court room is shifting in their seats and discreetly looking at their watches.
You can't really blame them. It's been a long two days and if any of the remaining possible jurors are chosen, they could be seeing the inside of this courtroom for the next three to four weeks. And, while they may have the inside scoop to what's going on in one of the hottest trials in Memphis so far this year, they won't be able to talk about it to anyone.
By the way, in case you've forgotten where we are in the jury selection process, we are still deciding on that one last final juror. The woman they had brought up to review in my last blog didn't make the cut and they've since looked at a few others.
This last juror is set to fill seat 13 and it certainly seems to be unlucky. They have gone through about seven possible jurors since this morning. None of them have appealed to the attorneys.
They are now talking to man in his late 20s. Keep your fingers crossed...
Lucky number 13
A woman has finally been chosen as the next alternate. Surprisingly, it seems that women make up the majority of the jurors. From a glance, it appears the jury so far will consist of 6 men and 9 women. The 12 core jurors are 4 men and 8 women.
Of course, this is just an estimate. Believe me, there is some debate about who is who as the camera keeps shifting and no one in the media room can count fast enough. And don't get us going on the mix. It seems to be 8 black and 4 white, but again --don't quote this.
The one thing we all can agree on is that there is one lone spot open and while we quickly scan the room, we wonder who's going to be the final alternate. Although this person will be the fourth alternate and the 16th juror chosen, they will be filling seat number 13.
The judge calls another person up for questioning --a woman. Will she make the cut?
Of course, this is just an estimate. Believe me, there is some debate about who is who as the camera keeps shifting and no one in the media room can count fast enough. And don't get us going on the mix. It seems to be 8 black and 4 white, but again --don't quote this.
The one thing we all can agree on is that there is one lone spot open and while we quickly scan the room, we wonder who's going to be the final alternate. Although this person will be the fourth alternate and the 16th juror chosen, they will be filling seat number 13.
The judge calls another person up for questioning --a woman. Will she make the cut?
What's for lunch?
The final alternate jurors seem to be giving the attorneys a bit of a challenge. After deliberating all morning, they've only come back with one more - a woman. They still have two more to go.
But....we're back to waiting again. This time people are starting to get restless - the media and the potential jurors alike.
There are still a large number of people sitting patiently in the hard benches. And after waiting since 9:00 am, their minds are most likely wondering "what's for lunch?".
But....we're back to waiting again. This time people are starting to get restless - the media and the potential jurors alike.
There are still a large number of people sitting patiently in the hard benches. And after waiting since 9:00 am, their minds are most likely wondering "what's for lunch?".
And we are still waiting...
After a promising start in the morning in finalizing jury selection for the John Ford Tennessee Waltz trial, things have come to a standstill. For the last 90 minutes, the defense and prosecutors have been meeting in hushed close-quarters, deciding on who will be the final three.
Finally they looked up and we were hopeful that the final alternate jurors would be announced. Papers snapped shut, laptops flipped open and cell phones were switched off. But alas...it was not to be.
Instead, the judge announced they needed a 20 minute break.
So again we wait...
Finally they looked up and we were hopeful that the final alternate jurors would be announced. Papers snapped shut, laptops flipped open and cell phones were switched off. But alas...it was not to be.
Instead, the judge announced they needed a 20 minute break.
So again we wait...
Who will be the final four?
It's day two and already things are off to roaring start. It's not even 10:00 am and they have already picked one of the final four jurors.
They have three more to go. They've already seated the 12 official jurors they chose from yesterday, so these final four will be the alternates. But the trial can't begin until they are chosen.
In the meantime, the judge announced the rules of the courtroom. The press will be allowed, but we'll have to as quiet as mouse. He doesn't even want to hear the sound of fingers typing away on the keyboard. While this means we'll have to revert back to old fashioned pen and paper, at least we will be allowed in when the proceedings begin.
They have three more to go. They've already seated the 12 official jurors they chose from yesterday, so these final four will be the alternates. But the trial can't begin until they are chosen.
In the meantime, the judge announced the rules of the courtroom. The press will be allowed, but we'll have to as quiet as mouse. He doesn't even want to hear the sound of fingers typing away on the keyboard. While this means we'll have to revert back to old fashioned pen and paper, at least we will be allowed in when the proceedings begin.
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