By Associated Press
Tuscaloosa, AL – Jurors are back in a Tuscaloosa courtroom for a sixth day of deliberations on charges accusing Tuscaloosa physician Phillip Bobo of trying to bribe a competitor for state Medicaid contracts.
Wednesday, a note from a juror indicated she may be at odds with other jurors.
Federal Judge Sharon Blackburn brought the jury into the courtroom about 4:15 p.m. to address a written question from an unidentified female juror. The note said Blackburn had told jurors earlier that they would ''never have to explain your verdict to anyone.'' The juror underlined ''anyone'' twice, drew a box around it and had an arrow pointing at a question: ''Does this also mean that I do not have to explain to other jurors why I have reached my verdict?''
Blackburn told jurors that her earlier instructions meant that jurors would never have to explain their verdict to anyone after their deliberations are over. However, the judge said jurors should be willing to discuss their views with other jurors during the deliberations.
The 63-year-old Bobo has maintained his innocence.
(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)