Judge tells attorneys in Blagojevich corruption trial to be ready for openings on Tuesday

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Judge: Be ready for openings in Blagojevich trial

CHICAGO — The judge in the corruption trial of former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich ended the questioning of potential jurors Monday and told attorneys to be ready with their opening statements the next day.

U.S. District Judge James B. Zagel told the lawyers to be prepared to make their final challenges about potential jurors first thing Tuesday, and that opening statements are likely to start immediately after the jury is seated. Zagel says he’ll adjourn after the openings and start hearing from witnesses on Wednesday.

Blagojevich had listened intently as Zagel asked the latest batch of prospective jurors — who came after about 60 questioned last week — if they could give a fair trial to the 53-year-old who was impeached and booted out of office in 2009.

Blagojevich had arrived Monday telling reporters he was glad to be back in court after a weekend away because “this is the place where we can finally get the truth out.”

“For the past year and a half, Patti and I have had to live through false accusations and lies,” Blagojevich said, hand in hand with his wife, Patti Blagojevich, as he entered the courthouse.

The former governor has pleaded not guilty to scheming to get a payoff in exchanging for filling the U.S. Senate seat President Barack Obama vacated after his November 2008 election. He also denies charges that he plotted to leverage his power as governor into a moneymaking enterprise.

Blagojevich’s famously theatrical attorney says his opening statement could run as long as two and a half hours. But Zagel told Sam Adam Jr. that he’ll have no more than an hour and 45 minutes. Adam has gained a reputation as a fiery courtroom orator whose shouting, whispering, table-pounding closing argument preceded R&B singer R. Kelly’s acquittal on child pornography charges two years ago.

Prosecutors told Zagel they expect to need no more than an hour for their opening statement. And lead prosecutor Reid Schar said he’ll be on watch for any remarks in the openings that the trial judge has ruled out of bounds.

Zagel has barred defense attorneys from saying any good deeds Blagojevich may have done as governor disprove the charges against him. He has also blocked the mention of Blagojevich fundraiser Christopher Kelly’s suicide and other matters.

The former governor’s brother, Robert Blagojevich, 54, a Nashville, Tenn., businessman, has pleaded not guilty to taking part in the alleged plot to sell or trade the Senate seat and scheming to pressure a racetrack owner illegally for a hefty campaign contribution.

Potential jurors questioned Monday included a middle-aged insurance underwriter who had said on his pretrial questionnaire that he believed some politicians care about “the public good.” He said most, though, are motivated by “ego, control, power and money.” But he said that wouldn’t stop him from giving Blagojevich a fair trial.

Also questioned were a former bank chairman, an inventory clerk in a book company, a college student who had worked in the state comptroller’s office and made political donations, a state welfare worker, a marketing account executive, a nanny, an insurance broker, a woman who likes to do flower arrangements and an administrative assistant who listens only to Christian radio stations.

A number of the potential jurors were dismissed for reasons ranging from possible bias on their part to inability to understand what was being said, either because of hearing problems or a weak grasp of the English language.

Among those Zagel struck from the list were a woman who said a good friend of hers worked in Blagojevich’s press office and a TV host who told the judge he was an avid reader of current events. Zagel released another man who finished serving on a jury in another case just two weeks ago.

Both prosecutors and defense attorneys will be able to exercise their so-called peremptory challenges — jurors they can rule out without giving any explanation. The defense has 13 such challenges and the prosecution nine.