Monday, June 27, 2011
Never Go to Trial After a Hung Jury
Disgraced, impeached, partially convicted felon, former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich (D) was convicted of 17 of the 20 counts left after his last trial in August, 2010 ended in one conviction and the jury hung on the remaining 20 plus counts. Today, he was acquitted of one count and this jury couldn't decide on two counts (involving the School shakedown and the Tollway shakedown) one of those involved former Representative and now Chicago mayor Rahm Emanuel (D). Blagojevich is the fourth Illinois governor(3 of them Democrats) convicted of felonies after leaving office, since 1975.
The conviction rate after mistrial caused by a jury that couldn't agree (and where the not guilty jurors comprised less than1/4 of the entire group) is about 80%. The prosecution has been surprised by something in the first trial, but did not lose and on the second try there are no surprises and usually a conviction.
If there was a deal out there after the first trial, Blagojevich should have taken it.
The conviction rate after mistrial caused by a jury that couldn't agree (and where the not guilty jurors comprised less than1/4 of the entire group) is about 80%. The prosecution has been surprised by something in the first trial, but did not lose and on the second try there are no surprises and usually a conviction.
If there was a deal out there after the first trial, Blagojevich should have taken it.
Labels: Rod Blagojevich; Convictions After Hung Jury
# posted by Roger Fraley @ 2:58 PM 
