The Verdict: Where's The Juror, and How's The Jury?

This episode started and stopped with discussion of Mrs. Black's intemperate, perhaps injudicious, remarks. On the beginning of the show was Joanna Walters, an eyewitness to those remarks. The "slut" comment was made (in her words) in a "cut-glass,” “aggressive” voice, and she said that she had never heard such a thing during any trial she has covered. She also said that the remark was unprovoked by the journalist, CBC producer Melanie Glanz.

Next, Steve Skurka weighed in with the opinion that if the defense can show complicity with respect to the timing of the settlement, they're a long way towards getting an acquittal. A later guest, William (Bill) Mateja, opined that the timing was surprising, but the SEC is an independent agency that often goes its own way.

Jury consultant Samuel Solomon was next, discussing the reason for juror anonymity. There is a ”general concern” that the press will bend the trial out of shape. Ms. Todd broached the possibility of the court being embarrassed, and brought up two jurors who turned out to be convicted felons in another, recent, trial. Csr. Solomon, though, stated that the reason why Judge St. Eve has kept the jury anonymous is her general concern over a mistrial, or over possible appeals. Juror anonymity is not unprecedented during a racketeering trial, Ms. Todd noted, but juror safety is not relevant here, Csr. Soloman replied; a potential media circus is. Also, there's a general decorum-of-the-court issue at stake.

The children of Conrad Black, primarily Alana, got a moment. Siri Agrell, a former fellow intern, called Alana “gorgeous” and “unassuming,” as well as low-profile by habit; so are her brothers. She's low-key, and always smiling. She talks with Mrs. Black at the trial. According to journalist Ian Brown, she has a good relationship with her father: she gives him “vigour” and calms him down. He was unable to predict the effect on the jury of this close relationship; perhaps there will be none. Jeffrey Cramer’s two kids were there too. Mr. Greenspan’s daughter is working with him. The overall effect of the kids showing up is a humanization of the trial. Another journalist, Romina Maurino, noted that it's a tense time for Alana.

Two lawyers, Bill Mateja and Todd White, discussed the future of the trial. Csr. Mateja mentioned that the weekend announcement gave the defense an opportunity, and that the timing of the second settlement was rather odd. Nevertheless, it may not discredit Mr. Radler's testimony; the request for a halt was a defensive move by the defense. Anyway, the most recent Radler settlement was only a side deal; the primary deal the defense must discredit is the deal with the prosecution itself. Csr. White agreed, and added that Eddie Greenspan will take the delay in stride. He called the timing of the settlement announcement “too cute by half,” and blamed Mr. Radler for it. It is normal to stay SEC and civil matters until the associated trial is over. The delay may discredit, somewhat, Mr. Radler’s testimony. Csr. White noted, though, that the judge did refuse to adjourn simply on the basis of defense need to read the settlement papers.

Next were two other journalists, primarily discussing the pressures of journalism. David Litterick of the Telegraph, after disclosing that he was not sure what had happened to the missing juror, speculated that the juror in question could be compromised by reading of the settlement. He further disclosed that he’s pressured due to the time zone difference between Chicago and the U.K. He also brought up Mrs. Black being pushed by a journalist earlier, but Ms. Todd assumed that it was accidental. He thought Judge St. Eve was very impressive, and friendly. Janet Whitman said that Mrs. Black was under a lot of pressure. There has been a reporter throng building; some of them, including she herself, were looking for a human-interest story that could only be found through informal encounters. Reporters, though, are under pressure too.

The show ended with an editorial by Ms. Todd, called her "Closing Argument," about Mrs. Black's vulgarity: in her defense, she did seem fragile at times last week, but her experience as a journalist, as well as her husband's long career as a media proprietor, should have been enough for her to understand how journalism works.