The Waiting Game

John Ford is waiting along with the rest of us.

He's out to lunch on Main street while the jurors take their lunch break.

Several of his family members are here waiting too.

Lunch Time

The jury has just taken a break for lunch.

I'll update you when they return.

Back from Break

Members of the jury have just returned from their break. They appear to be in good spirits.

Celebrity guest

Former Shelby County Commissioner, current mayoral candidate John Willingham has arrived on the 11th floor of the federal courthouse.

We asked him what brings him here.

"I ran out of gas," he joked.

Break Time

Members of the jury have just exited the jury room.

We're told they are taking a short break.

Jury back at work

How should I put this. I'd be lying to you folks if I told you this was exciting.

We're sitting in a hallway watching people get off an elevator. We look at them, they look at us.

Then they get back on the elevator to go downstairs, and we wait for the next group.

I can't imagine what it must be like for both parties involved to wait for the verdict.

The jury has been at work now for about 12 hours over three days.

There is a lot on the line here.

If John Ford is convicted on all five counts, he could face up to 60 years in prison, and more than a million dollars in fines.

The government has spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on Operation Tennessee Waltz.

Ford was arrested back on May 25, 2005.

Here we are almost two years later, and his future rests in the hands of the jury.

I'll keep you updated.

Good Morning ... again!

Good morning again from the courthouse.

Here we go again. Day three of deliberations.

The judge has just arrived.

I haven't seen any sign of the jury, but they could already be in the jury room.

They were instructed last night to report at 9:30 a.m.

Last night ended with a question ... not a verdict.

John Ford left court saying he feels good.

His attorney, Michael Scholl, declined to make any comments about the jury's question.