The Verdict: The Juror's Tale

Tonight's episode of The Verdict had a brief segment on what excused juror Sandra Grubar had to say, and what it implies for the outcome of the Conrad Black trial. The two guests were Paul Waldie and Steve Skurka. Mr. Waldie was the reporter who had interviewed the ex-juror.

He said that she was excused to look after her sick father, who has since recovered; she’s been trial-watching ever since. She wasn’t convinced by the prosecution’s key witnesses while she was empanelled. Since she was excused, though, she has seen some evidence from the prosecution that was “more compelling.” She didn't see the testimony of David Radler and most of the audit committee. Despite her skepticism towards the prosecution's case, she did like the prosecution's opening statement.

Csr. Skurka added that the impression she conveys may be misleading. She may be like the excused juror from the Scott Peterson case: that juror had also said that the prosecution's case was “not convincing,” but Mr. Peterson was convicted anyway. Trial observers can’t read too much into Ms. Grubar's interview.

Mr. Waldie noted that Eddie Greespan had to give up his favourite in-depth cross-examinational style due to differing court procedure rules and conventions. Csr. Skurka mentioned that Csr. Greenspan didn’t cross-examine that much during Ms. Grubar's sitting time. Mr. Waldie informed him that she was empanelled during Csr. Greenspan's cross-examinations of Gordon Paris and Fred Creasey. As far as the closing argument for Conrad Black's defense is concerned, Mr. Waldie continued, Edward Genson will probably deliver it because it was he who had given the opening argument.

Ms. Grubar's report on the other jurors was important too. The jury isn’t all blue collar; some are middle managers. Not all are from the city itself; some are from Chicago suburbs. They're middle class. They also understand what the issues and “business concepts” are.

Regarding the wealth/class factor: she said that the lavish-lifestyle argument of the prosecution wasn't convincing. On the other hand, she said that Mark Kipnis is the most likable of all the defendants, and is the most like them. He's the most down-to-earth.


[This episode of The Verdict will be broadbanded as of 10:30 pm tonight, and will stay up until about 10:30 PM or so tomorrow.]