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Libby Trial: No Verdict, Two Jury Questions

By Jeralyn, Section Lewis Libby Trial Coverage
Posted on Fri Mar 02, 2007 at 02:06:00 PM EST
Tags: Libby Trial, Valerie Plame, Joseph Wilson (all tags)
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Bump and Update: Via DOJ spokesperson Randall Samborn:

The Libby jury delivered two notes containing questions when they were excused today. Both notes will be available on the public docket later today. Court will convene at 9 a.m. on Monday March 5 to address the notes.

Update: No verdict today.

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Libby Trial: Verdict Unlikely Today

A verdict is unlikely today in the Scooter Libby trial. The jurors' note (pdf) yesterday said they wanted to be excused at 2:00 pm to attend to "personal, professional and medical obligations," and the Judge granted it.

The judge thinks they will deliberate into next week. And yes, it appears they care about being dressed appropriately when the verdict is returned:

`So I assume they will not have a verdict tomorrow either,'' Walton told lawyers as jurors finished their seventh day of deliberations.

Before bringing the jurors into court, Walton advised lawyers they ``will not be happy about coming into court because they don't think they are dressed appropriately.''

He said that's why they decided not to come into court Monday for a brief discussion and how ``I knew there wasn't a verdict'' coming Thursday. About half were wearing blue jeans, but most smiled broadly when Walton granted their request to leave early Friday.

The Judge denied a request for a dictionary:

Walton said he denied the dictionary request - not an uncommon one for juries - because definitions of common words can have legal implications. He told jurors if they had questions, they could ask him directly.

In other case-related news, Warner Brothers is planning a movie on Joseph Wilson and Valerie Plame.

The film is a co-production between Weed Road's Akiva Goldsman and Jerry and Janet Zucker of Zucker Productions. Jez and John Butterworth are writing the screenplay.

WB has secured the life rights of Plame and Wilson. Studio also will use Plame's memoir, "Fair Game," if the CIA permits her to publish it. Plame made a reported publishing deal in the $2.5 million range last year, and Simon & Schuster is expected to publish late this year.

The direction of the movie?

The biggest element of the movie to us is the story of two people who spent their lives in service of their government, and were then betrayed by that government."

Update: Mark Fiore cartoon, The Little Scooter.

Update: Jane Hamsher of Firedoglake is at the courthouse and will bring any news.

Update: No verdict today, the jury is gone for the Day. Firedoglake is taking casting suggestions for the movie.

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    Libby Trial: No Verdict, Two Jury Questions | 5 comments (5 topical)

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    So where do we go from here? (none / 0) (#1)
    by MiddleOfTheRoad on Fri Mar 02, 2007 at 08:37:23 AM EST
    I still think that the jury will return a guilty verdict on a majority of the counts.

    If they do, do you think that Fitz would go after Cheney next?  If there was any doubt about Cheney being in Fitz's crosshairs it was erased by Fitz's closing statement.  And I think that the vicious Toensing smear job is an indicator of more ugly things to come.

    I think that the most relevant count is obstruction of justice, and if there is a guilty verdict on that it could be a turbulent ride.

    Jury still out (none / 0) (#2)
    by wlgriffi on Fri Mar 02, 2007 at 12:26:14 PM EST
    "I think that the most relevant count is obstruction of justice...."

    You may be right. However,I've come to the conclusion that no one seems to know a lie when they see one these days. The jury has been out -what-a week now,not able to decide whether a lie was used to obstruct justice? Come on. The Bush era has polished the lie technique to such finesse it blinds any ray of truth that might try to surface. As for Fitz,he's got a position already waiting for him in the Administration so don't fret about Cheney being next on his list.

    Parent

    Here are the new notes (none / 0) (#3)
    by MiddleOfTheRoad on Fri Mar 02, 2007 at 02:40:38 PM EST
    http://blog.courttv.com/inside/files/notes.pdf

    Oh Spare Me!! (none / 0) (#4)
    by goldwater on Fri Mar 02, 2007 at 05:40:49 PM EST
    ..."obstruct justice'...

    What a joke that is.

    There was no underlying crime.  

    Plame was NOT undercover or covert or whatever...

    Fitzgerald knew that Armitage had leaked to Novak his first day on the job.

    Wilson has been proved to be nothing more than a pathological liar from the beginning.

    And furthermore, since when is telling the public the truth an attempt to 'smear' and 'discredit' someone.  Wasn't it TRUE that Wilson's wife worked at CIA?  Then STFU about this being evil WH plot to 'destroy' Joe Wilson.  DESTROY HOW?  By telling the TRUTH???

    If the CIA was so concerned about Plame's identity why in the hell would they let her husband run around talking to reports w/o a confidentiality agreement to say nothing of letting him write a freaking op/ed in the NYT.

    The real plot here is at the CIA to cover their utter incompetence.

    Please don't (none / 0) (#5)
    by Jeralyn on Fri Mar 02, 2007 at 06:20:41 PM EST
    Goldwater, please don't spread misinformation here.  

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    Libby Trial: No Verdict, Two Jury Questions | 5 comments (5 topical)

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