Why didn't Scooter Libby get a fair trial from a jury of his peers?

Question

Is it because convicted felons cannot serve on a jury?

fast eddie, jealousy is ugly on everyone

Answer 1

He got a fair trial.

He was unable to persuade even ONE of twelve (well, eleven) adult American citizens that he had made a series of five or six just-plain-honest, forgetful mistakes.

It has to be unanimous to convict, guys.

Answer 2

I believe the standard is that you are entitled to a jury drawn from a cross-section of the community in which you are tried.

There's more to it than that - a lot more - but that's the basic legal principle.

The lesson is, if you want to commit a crime, do it in a "friendly" neighborhood! :)

PS I have a little more time now. What I meant by my last comment is that in some communities ANY cross-section would be hostile to the defendant. (Some have said this of Washington, DC and the possible liberal bias of its juror pool.) In such a case the defense can ask to have the trial moved, alleging that the defendant cannot receive a fair trial in that jurisdiction. I don't know the details, but I know it's been done. The OJ trial was moved, from where the crimes occurred to a different neighborhood. From a well-to-do LA suburb to downtown LA, I believe.

Answer 3

Here is an excerpt from the new york post about this:

Democrats and Bush-bashers in the media are chortling with glee, and special prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald has a high-level scalp on his belt.

Scooter Libby's.

Thus ends (pending appeals) a 38-month investigation into the so-called Plamegate case.

Despite the jury's guilty verdict yesterday on four of five counts, it's fair to say that Fitzgerald added nothing to what was well known about the question that ostensibly prompted this probe in the first place: Who leaked CIA operative Valerie Plame Wilson's name to columnist Robert Novak?

The answer, as Fitzgerald knew for three years, was then-Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage - in an off-hand conversation, not a leak.

And since Armitage was a critic of the Iraq war, that pretty much shot down any suggestion that the White House had deliberately sought to "out" Plame in order to sabotage her husband's public criticism of Bush's Iraq policy.

So what was this all about?

Scoring points against Bush.

This was strictly a political trial to get someone in the Bush administration. The whole article can be found at:

http://www.nypost.com/seven/03072007/postopinion/editorials/free_scooter_libby_editorials_.htm

Answer 4

Because trying to find a "fair" jury in Washington, DC is like getting clean water out of a swamp!

Answer 5

Hey heidi, Nailed that one on the head. Trying to fnd 12 of Scooters peers who are not felons is like trying to find a gay guy at an evangelical meeting, oops, thats not gonna work. lol

Answer 6

Yeah Dennis Collins seems like a real un-biased left wing democrat doesn't he? When he's asking where's Cheney? Where's Rove?

When the trial wasn't even about whether or not Valerie Plame was outed. It was about whether Scooter lied to a Grand Jury or not...

Scooter got railroaded.

Answer 7

yea, how can it be fair if there is no one like him on the jury

Answer 8

Ha, ha, better put the kneepads back on and call up White Trash Billy, honey - Queen Hillary the Great's website reports that he hasn't been serviced in the last 15 minutes and he's looking for fresh meat. On the other hand, if fresh is what he's after...

Oh, and congratulations on being elevated to the level of Top Contributor - I betcha it makes you FEEL good, huh? I did notice, however, that they don't specify the quality of your "contributions" - now, just why is that?

Answer 9

He did get a fair trial!

That is why he was found Guilty!

duh!

Answer 10

But,but,but Bill Clinton!
They'll start screaming that any minute now.

Edit-I see they already started.