By Associated Press
Montgomery, AL – A motion seeking a new trial for former Governor Don Siegelman and former HealthSouth C-E-O Richard Scrushy was ordered sealed by a federal judge and removed from public view yesterday. Defense attorneys filed the motion Monday, saying jurors communicated with each other over the Internet and that violated a judge's orders. U-S- District Judge Mark Fuller ordered the motion placed under seal after a juror whose name was supposed to have been blacked out was identified in the original motion. Fuller has scheduled a noon conference call with attorneys today to discuss the motion. Prosecutor Steve Feaga said the motion was -- quote -- "a fishing expedition by desperate convicted criminals." The motion includes a statement from juror Charlie Stanford, who said he felt like he did the wrong thing concerning the verdict. In his sworn statement Stanford described a tense atmosphere in the jury room and said he felt pressured by Fuller. The judge asked jurors to keep deliberating after they had reported two times that they were deadlocked.