Juror e-mails in Siegelman trial were forged

[flashl]

Juror e-mails in Siegelman trial were forged but defense attorneys kept out of the loop

Judge told of investigation but defense not informed

News Washington correspondent

WASHINGTON - An investigation by a postal inspector found the e-mails purportedly exchanged by jurors during former Gov. Don Siegelman's 2006 criminal trial were forged, but the results of that investigation were shared with the judge and not the defense attorneys, according to the U.S. Justice Department.

In a letter to the defense team earlier this month, a top official in the appellate division of the Justice Department disclosed that a representative of the U.S. Marshals Service told the judge about the postal inspectors' findings in April 2007, a time when the prosecution and defense were arguing over whether the e-mails improperly influenced jury deliberations and warranted a retrial.

The Justice Department on July 8 sent the new information to the attorneys for Siegelman and co-defendant Richard Scrushy "out of an abundance of caution" and said it did not change the government's opinion that a new trial was unnecessary, according to the agency's letter.

However, U.S. Rep. Artur Davis and Siegelman's top lawyer seized on the disclosure as further evidence of misconduct in Siegelman's trial.

[barbtries]

1. isn't it past time

that the judge in this case be investigated as well? most of the multiple injustices and indignities visited on don siegelman would have been impossible without his complicity. putting him straight into cuffs and sent off to prison directly from the verdict, for starters. it stinks. totally stinks.

[flashl]

4. Seems there's not much judical oversight in Alabama

Alabama judicial oversight called ‘toothless’. Alabama ranks 38th in holding state judges accountable. A national judicial watchdog group gives Alabama a D-plus grade for its system of handling ethics complaints related to state judges.

[annabanana]

7. As high as 38th?

Who's lower?

[flashl]

8. Worst ....

DC, DE, LA, ME, MS

Report Card

[flashl]

9. Corrected link

Alabama judicial oversight called ‘toothless’

http://www.tuscaloosanews.com/article/20080707/NEWS/236504287/1007

[The Backlash Cometh]

2. kick

[Joe Chi Minh]

3. It would be nice to think that when it comes, they'll be hauled off straight

away in handcuffs.

[Kaleko]

5. Kick for exposure

[flashl]

6. Siegelman supporters call for search into e-mails

Montgomery Advertiser

WASHINGTON -- Supporters of former Alabama Gov. Don Siegelman are calling for a broader investigation into his corruption case after the Justice Department acknowledged that communications about potential juror misconduct were withheld from the defense in 2006.

The Justice Department said the recently uncovered information changes little about the underlying case, but Siegelman's defenders on Wednesday called it a significant example of improper behavior by prosecutors and possibly by the judge.

At issue is a series of e-mails that arose in 2006 suggesting that two jurors had outside influence as they decided Siegelman's bribery conviction. After he was found guilty, Siegelman sought a new trial over the e-mails, printed copies of which had been mailed to defense attorneys.

U.S. District Judge Mark Fuller denied the motion for a new trial, ruling that the allegations were unsubstantiated. Siegelman has cited the issue as a central point in his ongoing appeal.

[Pastiche423]

10. K&R