They met again within the days when Donald Trump and Kamala Harris had been looking out for an “October shock.”
They’ve spent three months collectively — as a captive viewers. They obtained to know one another as Election Day handed, after which the vacations. Snow started to fall and a brand new 12 months started.
All of the whereas, 12 jurors and 6 alternates returned, day after day, to a Twelfth-floor courtroom on the Dirksen Federal Courthouse to listen to the historic racketeering conspiracy case towards ex-Illinois Home Speaker Michael J. Madigan. Nobody has left the panel for the reason that trial started.
Now, they’re the target market as prosecutors insist in closing arguments Wednesday that they’ve confirmed Madigan responsible of main a felony enterprise — and as protection attorneys argue the feds have fallen brief.
Solely a dozen members of the panel will in the end make that decision. For now, that group is made up of eight girls and 4 males. However there’s nonetheless an opportunity that alternates may transfer up earlier than the decision is delivered. To achieve all of them, the attorneys are possible considering again to the two-week jury choice course of that started Madigan’s trial.
Madigan’s jury is made up of odd Illinoisans whose lives have possible been affected by the previous speaker, given his record-breaking 36-year tenure because the chief of the Illinois Home of Representatives. They’ll quickly maintain his destiny of their arms.
The jurors have appeared engaged and attentive all through many of the trial. They’ve suffered via some notably dry proof, however in addition they obtained a front-row seat to marquee testimony from the likes of Madigan and former Chicago Ald. Danny Solis.
Lots of the jurors seem to have taken cautious notes all alongside the best way.
U.S. District Choose John Blakey determined forward of Madigan’s trial that the jurors’ names wouldn’t be disclosed till after they ship their verdict. So, whereas they answered some questions on themselves in open courtroom, their identities haven’t been revealed.
One girl on the panel mentioned she grew up within the thirteenth Ward, Madigan’s Southwest Facet energy base. She mentioned she has nothing however typical childhood recollections of her time there, although. She mentioned she’s now an educator, working with lecturers to implement greatest practices.
There’s additionally a person who works for Amazon. He triggered concern for protection attorneys when he mentioned throughout jury choice that he seen lobbying as “bribing different individuals with a purpose to get a response.” He acknowledged that it’s authorized, although, which Blakey took as an indication the person may observe the legislation.
One other man mentioned he lives within the nineteenth Ward, is aware of Ald. Matthew O’Shea and has a number of pals who’re Chicago law enforcement officials. He instructed Blakey and the attorneys — plainly — that he didn’t wish to be on the jury.
Different members of the panel embody a nurse who enjoys Marvel motion pictures, a lady who works at a Goodwill donation middle, and one other girl who has labored in catering — together with for an occasion tied to the current Democratic Nationwide Conference.
One girl works for Aramark, one other is a painter who works in acrylics and hopes to maneuver to Eire quickly, and one other listed “The Workplace” and “Recreation of Thrones” amongst her favourite TV reveals.
One girl, chosen as an alternate, defined that her job entails measuring analytics for TikTok, the app that’s been on the middle of nationwide debate over its Chinese language possession and briefly went darkish over the weekend.
A very memorable anecdote got here from one other juror, who instructed the courtroom about her longtime buddy and lunch companion, “Becky.”
The juror defined that, when she was summoned for jury obligation, Becky accurately surmised that she had been known as to serve in Madigan’s trial. However because it seems, Becky is not any fan of Madigan. So Tom Breen, one in every of Madigan’s attorneys, determined to get proper to the purpose.
“How dangerous did Becky trash Mr. Madigan?” he requested.
“She mentioned, ‘In case you get on the jury, vote responsible,’” the juror instructed him.
The juror described Becky as “a Trumper,” although. She mentioned she and her buddy “don’t have the identical political opinions.”
“She actually hates all Democrats,” the juror mentioned of Becky. “Besides me, possibly.”
Regardless, Breen determined to go away the juror with just a few phrases of warning.
“Watch what you eat together with her.”
