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Court Casting Wide Net for Jurors In Melton Trial
William Patrick Butler
Mayor Frank Melton goes on trial in November.
by Ward Schaefer
October 3, 2008
See also: JFP Melton Blog
Citing exhaustive coverage of Frank Melton in local media, U.S. District Court Judge Daniel Jordan said at a hearing today that juror selection for the Jackson mayor’s federal trial will pull from as far away as Pascagoula. Jordan said that it will be difficult to find jurors in the Jackson metropolitan area not “potentially tainted by the exposure of this case.”
“It could be we end up with a jury of people out of Lucedale,” Jordan said.
Jordan will hear pre-trial motions on Nov. 10. He said that he expects jury selection to last two full days. Arguments would then begin Friday, Nov. 14th.
Mark Blumberg, attorney for the government, told Jordan that he expects to take a week presenting the government’s case against Melton, Wright and Recio.
Melton, Wright and Recio face three civil rights charges for their roles in the Aug. 2006 demolition of an occupied house on Ridgeway Street. In April 2007, a Hinds County jury acquitted the three in a state trial that became a referendum on Melton’s motives and allegations that the house was a center of drug activity. Federal prosecutors have filed motions asking that any evidence of drug activity at the Ridgeway Street duplex be excluded from the upcoming trial.
posted by ladd on 10/03/08 at 03:15 PM. [printer-friendly version]
COMMENTS
It'a amazing how the cops (Recio/Wright) are now scrambling to defend their inactions. If anyone else had torn down this house they would have been arrested immediately. Melton has has over three years to torment Jackson. It appears that the party is over now.
When Melton was on The Bottom Line he would have condemed Johnson if he had committed these acts but since he is now "the Ultimate Authority" all is fair when its him. I sincerely hope that he and his bodyguards are found guilty and are given the maximum penalties under the law. He fooled enough of the people to get in office. Hopefully now everyone sees him for who he really is.
posted by lance on 10/07/08 at 05:40 AM
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