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Day Four in Blagojevich Retrial
(IRN)-As jury selection in retrial of ex-Governor Rod Blagojevich enters day four, a law professor says jurors who make the final cut will have a long six weeks ahead of them.

Steven Beckett, professor of law at the University of Illinois, says both the prosecution and the defense have an obligation to keep the jury engaged during the trial. And when it comes to jurors, they must "get in the zone."

Beckett says courts have come a long way in trying to keep jurors engaged. He says the use of visual aids and allowing note taking are two tools that have helped keep jurors focused on the trial.

As jury selection continues with hopes of seating 12 jurors and six alternates, Judge James B. Zagel has indicated that opening statements could come on Monday.

Blagojevich is accused of scheming to sell a U.S. Senate seat for campaign contributions and trying to shake people down for campaign contributions. Jurors in the first trial were hung on all but one count against Blagojevich, lying to the FBI.

(Source: Illinois Radio Network)
04 27 11 by Newsroom
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