JACKSON - Jury selection in the bribery case of a Mississippi Supreme Court justice took an unexpected turn Friday when a federal judge said a prospective juror may have alleged that the jury pool was tainted.
Only about 30 of the original pool of 100 potential jurors remained Friday in the fifth day of jury selection in the trial of Justice Oliver Diaz Jr., Gulf Coast attorney Paul Minor and two former judges.
Minor is accused of buying favorable decisions from Diaz, former Circuit Judge John Whitfield and former Chancellor Wes Teel. Prosecutors have alleged, among other things, that Minor guaranteed a loan for approximately $75,000 and provided checks and cash to Diaz.
All have pleaded innocent to charges of bribery and fraud, and Minor has pleaded innocent after being charged with racketeering.
U.S. District Judge Henry T. Wingate told the court on Friday that McComb attorney Ed Bean contacted him, saying a potential juror who formerly worked for Bean had commented to him that the prospective jurors had already decided the defendants were guilty.
In court Friday, Wingate admonished the prospective juror, telling her, "I'm telling you this is a serious matter, especially since you said the jury panel was tainted and you would be the best hope for the defendants."
The woman acknowledged speaking with Bean but denied saying the jury pool had already decided the fate of the defendants.
Wingate told the woman that she had the right to hire an attorney before testifying further. She said she wanted an attorney and Wingate said a hearing would be held Monday. Wingate said he would likely also call Bean to court.
Bean did not immediately return calls to The Associated Press Friday.
Wingate had told the remaining members of the jury pool not to speak to anyone about the case.
The possibility that potential jurors had spoken about the case, however, set the selection process back most of the day Friday. Wingate called in each person who had not been excused to ask if they had been involved in discussions about the case.
None of those remaining in the jury pool said there had been in-depth discussion about the case. A handful said there had been conversations about how long the process would take.
However, none said that anyone in the jury pool had speculated on the guilt or innocence of the defendants.
Meanwhile, the jury pool was expanded by 50 people late Friday. Jury selection was expected to continue on Monday.
Wingate has had an extra group of 100 on standby in case a jury can't be selected from the initial pool. Potential jurors have represented a cross-section of Mississippians, from a kindergarten teacher to a court administrator from Lexington.
Defense attorneys have claimed the trial is based on partisan politics and a personal vendetta by a U.S. attorney who guided a grand jury to indict Minor and the other defendants.
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