MONTGOMERY, Ala. -- After three days of questioning potential jurors, attorneys expect to pick a jury Thursday for the trial of nine people accused of using millions to buy and sell votes on pro-gambling legislation at the Alabama Statehouse.
Prosecutors and defense attorneys worked late Wednesday evening questioning potential jurors and nearly finished the tasked.
"We'll have a jury Thursday, possibly by noon," said Jim Parkman, defense attorney for independent state Senate Harri Anne Smith of Slocomb.
On Tuesday and Wednesday, U.S. District Judge Myron Thompson brought attorneys in earlier than he had originally planned and kept them later at night to try to complete the questioning of groups of potential jurors.
The questioning took longer than the two days the judge anticipated because attorneys for each of the nine defendants get to ask potential jurors questions. The queries can include anything from the types of bumper stickers on their cars to whether they consider gambling to be a sin for which a casino owner can't get redemption.
Also, potential jurors know many of the likely witnesses, including many present and former public officials from Alabama and Georgia, and they must say publicly whether that would influence their verdict.
"The judge has been very patient with us," said Susan James, defense attorney for Jay Walker of Lanett, the former spokesman for Country Crossing casino in Dothan.
VictoryLand casino owner Milton McGregor and two of his influential lobbyists, Tom Coker and Bob Geddie, are accused of conspiring with four legislators and two others to swap millions in campaign contributions and business deals for votes on a proposed constitutional amendment that would allow McGregor's casino in Shorter and Country Crossing in Dothan to reopen. They had been forced to close in early 2010 by then-Gov. Bob Riley's gambling task force, which contended the casinos' electronic bingo machines were illegal slots.
The other defendants are independent Sen. Harri Anne Smith of Slocomb; Democratic Sen. Quinton Ross of Montgomery; former Democratic Sen. Larry Means of Attalla; former Republican Sen. Jim Preuitt of Talladega; and former legislative employee Ray Crosby. The four present and former senators voted for the gambling bill in March 2010, but it died in the House after the FBI disclosed a widespread investigation into government corruption.
When questioning groups of potential jurors each day, prosecution and defense attorneys read off names of more than 100 potential witnesses.
"The phone book has been about used," Preuitt's lawyer, Ron Wise, told potential jurors Wednesday.
"If that is, then I've got the Yellow Pages," Jim Parkman, Smith's attorney, said before adding more names.
Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
No comments:
Post a Comment