A federal jury in the bribery trial of former AT&T Illinois boss Paul La Schiazza, accused of funneling payments to an ally of Michael Madigan to win the speaker’s support for legislation in Springfield, has told the judge overseeing the case they may be deadlocked.
“What happens if we feel we are at a stalemate and feel that it won’t change?” a note sent out by the jury early Thursday said, according to U.S. District Judge Robert Gettleman.
Gettleman said he would tell the panel to keep at it.
“But I don’t see keeping them beyond today” before declaring a mistrial, Gettleman told lawyers in court. The judge is leaving town and won’t be back until Tuesday.
When the jury appeared, Gettlemen told them to get back to work, rereading the instruction that their verdict must be unanimous and they should make “every reasonable effort” to keep an open mind and reach a decision.
“I want you to take those words and go back to the jury room and keep working on this,” Gettleman told the panel. “We can get back together this afternoon and determine whether or not you can do that…. I know that it’s a difficult decision, but it’s important that you give it another try.”