Digital Media Center
Bryant-Denny Stadium, Gate 61
920 Paul Bryant Drive
Tuscaloosa, AL 35487-0370
(800) 654-4262

© 2024 Alabama Public Radio
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Judge Says "No" to Deadlock, Mistrial

By Alabama Public Radio

Montgomery, AL – Jurors say they're deadlocked in the government corruption trial of former Governor Don Siegelman and three others.

But a federal judge told them Thursday that's not good enough.

Jurors sent a note to Federal Judge Mark Fuller saying they could not reach a unanimous verdict in the 34-count case against Siegelman, two of his former Cabinet members and former HealthSouth CEO Richard Scrushy.

Siegelman's attorneys then asked Fuller to declare a mistrial, but the judge declined.

Instead, he gave jurors instructions designed to encourage them to reach agreement and continue deliberations.

So the jury is expected to begin its seventh day of deliberations Friday.

The judge says it's not unusual for jury deliberations to last longer than five days in a case this complex.

News from Alabama Public Radio is a public service in association with the University of Alabama. We depend on your help to keep our programming on the air and online. Please consider supporting the news you rely on with a donation today. Every contribution, no matter the size, propels our vital coverage. Thank you.