Judge: Clemens trial may start Wednesday
Former Major League Baseball pitcher Roger Clemens leaves federal court in Washington after a day of his trial on charges of lying to Congress in 2008 when he denied ever using performance-enhancing drugs. (July 11, 2011) Credit: AP
WASHINGTON -- U.S. District Judge Reggie Walton said opening statements in the Roger Clemens perjury case could begin as early as Wednesday after the first phase of jury selection came to a close last evening.
In an effort to reach his goal of 36 qualified jurors, Walton kept the courtroom open for an extra 90 minutes Monday, only to fall one juror short. Jury selection resumes Tuesday with both sides trying to whittle the 35 prospective jurors to 12, plus three or four alternates.
The charges against Clemens are perjury, making false statements and obstruction of Congress related to his denials of using performance-enhancing drugs at a 2008 congressional hearing.
The former Yankees pitcher once again sat through the proceedings, watching silently -- but at times intently -- as the judge and lawyers questioned the prospective jurors.
His attorney, Rusty Hardin, repeatedly asked jurors if they understood the premise of "innocent until proven guilty," coaching several of the Washington residents through the legal doctrine that the burden of proof rests solely with the government to prove Clemens is guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Jurors also were questioned by the defense about whether they would hold it against Clemens if he chose not to testify in his own defense. Hardin has not said whether Clemens would do so.
Hardin often mixed in some light questions, usually about the sports teams the prospective jurors said they root for. When he asked an Eagles fan why she didn't root for Donovan McNabb after he went to the Washington Redskins, she said she liked his replacement, Michael Vick, who was convicted and jailed for his involvement in dogfighting.
"I thought he was done wrong," she said.
The prospective jurors' identities are not publicly disclosed. But one juror revealed his last name in response to a question by Assistant U.S. Attorney Dan Butler.
Noting that the juror shares a last name with a star baseball player, Butler asked him, without revealing his last name, whether he's related to that player.
"Derek Jeter? No," the juror said.
Another potential juror is a retired chef for the Republican Party and the Washington Redskins who played football for Syracuse University three decades ago. He recalled opposing players being accused of taking steroids, which he said wouldn't factor into his thinking in this case.
'We have to do better' Newsday high school sports editor Gregg Sarra talks about a bench-clearing, parent-involved incident at a Half Hollow Hills West basketball game.
'We have to do better' Newsday high school sports editor Gregg Sarra talks about a bench-clearing, parent-involved incident at a Half Hollow Hills West basketball game.
