A lawyer for former Los Angeles Deputy Mayor Raymond Chan stated Friday that he would search a mistrial after the decide revealed {that a} juror was overheard saying they wished a “fast” verdict.
U.S. District Court docket Choose John F. Walter knowledgeable attorneys on either side of the case concerning the juror’s comment throughout a listening to on Friday, two days after Chan was convicted in a corruption case specializing in “pay-to-play” schemes involving actual property builders and metropolis officers.
Walter stated he was knowledgeable earlier within the week {that a} courtroom deputy had been strolling behind some jurors as they had been heading to their automobiles on Tuesday — not lengthy after attorneys delivered closing arguments. The deputy overheard one of many three jurors say to the others that they hoped the jury would arrive at a fast verdict.
The deputy relayed that info to a staffer in Walter’s courtroom. The decide stated that, after talking with the deputy, he concluded that the data ought to be publicly disclosed.
John Hanusz, who represents Chan, stated he would file a movement for a mistrial and search to have the jurors interviewed by the decide. Hanusz stated the jury moved with “velocity” to achieve a verdict on Wednesday, deciding in lower than two hours, regardless that there have been 10 days of testimony and about 1,000 displays.
“We shall be submitting a movement, that’s truthful to say,” Hanusz informed the decide. “No query about it.”
Walter downplayed the importance of the revelation, saying that juries in two different Metropolis Corridor corruption trials — each focusing on downtown actual property builders — additionally delivered quick verdicts. He stated there was “substantial” proof within the Chan case, which resulted in his conviction for racketeering, bribery, fraud and giving false statements to investigators.
Asst. U.S. Atty. Cassie Palmer echoed the decide, saying the juror’s remarks gave the impression to be “innocuous.”
“It seems they had been speaking about scheduling,” she stated.
