The Bunny Money

[Lord Jim]

If they have not finished deliberating, they have not finished deliberating -- regardless of whether they might be "partially" done. Until they have come to a final conclusion then nothing remains concluded, and even their "decision" on Count Three might be changed by further consideration.

Then why hasn't the judge made that clear? The legal commentators I've been watch seem split on that point but most of them are saying they expect that verdict to be final.

There doesn't seem to be a consensus that you opinion on that is correct in this instance.

[Guinevere]

I'm waiting for the made for TV miniseries to come out.

Didn't you see it? It was called "2008 Democractic Presidential Primary Campaign." It was on all the networks.

Ha! And that's said by a (former) supporter . . .

[Guinevere]

If they have not finished deliberating, they have not finished deliberating -- regardless of whether they might be "partially" done. Until they have come to a final conclusion then nothing remains concluded, and even their "decision" on Count Three might be changed by further consideration.

Then why hasn't the judge made that clear? The legal commentators I've been watch seem split on that point but most of them are saying they expect that verdict to be final.

There doesn't seem to be a consensus that you opinion on that is correct in this instance.

Seems clear to me -- she sent them back to deliberate further, and gave them an "Allen Order." That means they deliberate further until they reach consensus, and orders those jurors who don't agree to please reconsider their positions. Depending on what was agreed to and what was not, and how many people agree on what, the jury members could reconsider their positions on any of the issues.

Allen Order: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allen_v._U ... tes_(1896)

[Sue U]

Jim is not wrong. The rules do allow for a jury to return a verdict on those counts on which it has agreed, if it cannot agree on all counts. But I think at this point the judge is not satisfied that there can be no agreement on the remaining counts, and is trying to avoid having to declare a mistrial, since that might lead to yet another trial.

[Lord Jim]

Well, now it's not guilty on count three, and a mistrial on the others....

(Normally that would seem final, but with the way this has been handled, maybe next we'll hear something else....)

[Guinevere]

CNN.com says 1 guilty, deadlocked on the others ....

ETA: They have two different headlines - one guilty on #3, one not guilty on #3. Sheesh. No one can get it right today!

[Gob]

I'm waiting for the made for TV miniseries to come out.

Didn't you see it? It was called "2008 Democractic Presidential Primary Campaign." It was on all the networks.

Yeah, but we didn't get the finale, I'm waiting for the cliff-hanger to be resolved.


"He was young, good looking, talented, a politician of great renown. She was beautiful and sexy. The American dream living all American couple. Their son was killed in a tragic accident. He had an affair. He took to corrupt deal and illegal money. It went to court.....

Will our hero escape with his dignity attached, or will he end up dropping soap in the showers....

Part five; The courtroom finale, coming soon on Sky TV"

[Gob]

Ha, their spinning it out for a second series, it's going to jump the shark!!

[Sue U]

My news feeds say "not guilty" on count 3, mistrial on the others. I would give slight odds that the prosecution does not go for a re-trial.

ETA:

Will our hero escape with his dignity attached

Way too late for that.

[RayThom]

Why it's the fat lady singing.

Edwards not guilty on 1 count; mistrial declared on other 5 counts.

"After 9 days of deliberation, a jury has found John Edwards not guilty on one of six charges of campaign finance corruption brought against him."

I'll fall back on what I said early. This kind of verdict is most likely in a southern court. These juries don't think... they feel. And because they were so confused they had no choice. They just couldn't bring themselves to convicting such a smooth-tongued, pretty boy. Plus their bibles tell them turn the other check and be merciful. Edwards was merely a victim of circumstance.

You gotta' love our system of jurisprudence. God bless America.

[Sue U]

I don't think that's true, Ray. The jury spent 9 days considering the case, and I highly doubt it was either confusion, charm or Biblical injunction that drove the decision. As I have said, the government's case was a stretch -- claiming that Fred Baron's and Bunny Mellon's direct financial support of Rielle Hunter was actually a "contribution" to the Edwards presidential campaign. That is not what the law says, and the jury did not buy the government's attempt to extend its reach to such circumstances. It doesn't make Edwards any less disappointing as either a presidential candidate or a human being, but it is a fair result.

[Lord Jim]

I think it's probably unlikely there'll be a re-trial..Especially if the jury results show that they were never close to convicting on any of the charges...

I've made no secret of the fact that I have detested Edwards for years...I had him pegged as a slick, four star phony right out of the box; he reminded me an awful lot of a televangelist... (but of course, as slimey as I saw him to be, I had no idea what a completely amoral sociopath he would ultimately reveal himself to be.)

I'll admit I took some satisfaction from watching this world class narcissist hypocrite fall flat on his face...(And also the way his cheering squad in the media wound up with egg all over their faces...)

I'd have been perfectly happy to see him go to prison, but I'm not going to lose any sleep over his not going....

I do feel very sorry for his children...

Including his daughter with Hunter....

Can you imagine how that little girl is going to feel when she's old enough to learn that her daddy wanted to disown her and get another man to say that he was her father, so he could try to save his political career?

[rubato]

Wicked and unsavory is not the same as criminal. I think that is where the jury wound up.

yrs,
rubato

[Gob]

.I had him pegged as a slick, four star phony right out of the box; he reminded me an awful lot of a televangelist... (but of course, as slimey as I saw him to be, I had no idea what a completely amoral sociopath he would ultimately reveal himself to be.)

Perfect presidential material then

[RayThom]

... are noted and appreciated. I would expect nothing less from you and others in your profession towing that line. If your client loses faith in your vision all is lost. That's the business you're in and you have to sell the hope that all will be made right with proper counsel. Unfortunately, the dirty little secret within the system is that a "jury of your peers" rarely is of your peers. So you have to champion a kind of carrot-and-stick focus and enthusiasm to stay relevant, in order to earn a comfortable income. Pro Bono is great but it doesn't pay the mortgage. You gotta' sell product.

Anyway, had the Edwards defense allowed people on the jury who knew how thing really worked ol' John would have been found guilty within hours of deliberation. However, Edwards, as the slick politician and big-time trial lawyer he is, knows better than anyone else that in the age of jury consultants he was never truly in jeopardy of having any major "time in jail" charges stick. It was all just high concept theater to me, and no doubt to those on both sides of the fence, too. "If you can't dazzle them with brilliance, baffle them with bullshit." And the hapless jury responded accordingly.

Justice is on your side. Now... just how much justice can you afford?

[dales]

"I never had sex with that woman."

~Bill Clinton

No more presidents from south of the Mason-Dixon line for at least a century!

[Guinevere]

.I had him pegged as a slick, four star phony right out of the box; he reminded me an awful lot of a televangelist... (but of course, as slimey as I saw him to be, I had no idea what a completely amoral sociopath he would ultimately reveal himself to be.)

Perfect presidential material then

Luckily for us the US population doesn't agree with you, since we twice rejected his efforts to get the nomination.

[loCAtek]

...and now the Freak Show really starts.

Edwards didn't hide anything, and yet now 'she' can publish her memoirs.