Blago Retrial: Daily Journal 4/27

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What to Expect Today:

Judge James Zagel has six jurors left to question to reach his desired pool of 40 before attorneys on both sides begin their strikes to eventually settle on 12 jurors and six alternates. (At least that's what everyone though -- see below.) Zagel said Tuesday he expects opening arguments to begin Monday. During Rod Blagojevich's first trial, lawyers took days to settle on jurors they felt didn't lean against their case.

The Day's Updates:

8:00 p.m. -- The juror with the Oprah tickets has been relieved from service. Blagojevich said she had "effing golden" tickets. [Read More...]

5:40 p.m. -- Judge says more potential jurors will need to be brought in tomorrow to fill out questionairres.

4:15 p.m. -- Zagel continued interviewing potential jurors. Among the candidates Wednesday were a federal probation officer, a unemployed man who watches a lot of television and a woman whose husband worked on Blagojevich's congressional campaign.

12:15 p.m. -- Juror number 137, the woman with Oprah tickets, stays in the pool.

11:15 a.m. -- Zagel recallsa number of jurors to clarify issues.

10:39 a.m. -- Judge Zagel says his potential juror count is only 18 -- far below the unofficial count media has kept. We need 40. Even lawyers expressed surprise. Zagel remarked he once had an eight-week trial, where six weeks were jury selection.

9:57 a.m. -- Sam Adam Jr., Blagojevich's former lawyer, made a cameo appearance in the courtroom. "Now you know who's making our opening statement!" Sorosky said. But that's not true.

9:41 a.m. -- Blagojevich says the Blackhawks, who lost to the Vancouver Cancuks in Game 7, were "heroic."

Previous Journals:

Tuesday, April 26, 2011 -- Opening Statements Likely Monday

Monday, April 25, 2011 -- Jury Selection Resumes