Mayor Sheila Dixon seeking a plea deal
Negotiations are underway for a plea deal in Mayor Shelia Dixon’s case
Follow the breaking news on the #dixontrial or #mdtweets hashtags.
Dixon jurors continue Facebook discussions despite judge’s admonition
The judge told them to keep silent, but the so called “Facebook Five” continue to post Facebook messages about serving on the jury of Mayor Sheila Dixon’s theft trial.
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In their argument for a new trial, the Dixon defense team argued the five jurors Facebook posts during deliberations denied Dixon a fair trial
Judge Dennis Sweeney has ordered the five jurors to appear at a hearing Wednesday, when he will hear arguments on a new trial.
Late last month, Sweeney sent a letter to the five jurors asking them not to talk to anyone, including reporters about their jury service, until after this week’s hearing.
However, a WBAL Radio News investigation found at least three jurors talking to each other Facebook.
In a post on New Year’s Eve, Juror Number 12, James Chaney told two other jurors, “if you see me on the news remember you dont me. If you holla when you speak remember you dont know me.
He also says, “F*** the judges,” and he uses the “N word” to describe people following the case.
Chaney was responding to posts from Juror Number 6, Shiron Davis, who told Chaney, “Keep it movin’ ….Bottom line …..U dont know me!! Happy New Years, Chaney.”
Juror Number 8, Cherese Barrett responds to Chaney, “GM (good morning) Mr. Stranger! Lol! How did u become 1 of my FB n I don’t know u?! ”
It is not clear if the jurors were responding in part to Judge Sweeney’s letter and efforts to reach the jurors were unsuccessful.
Neither defense lawyers Arnold Weiner nor Barry Gogel returned emails from WBAL News seeking comment on these emails.
Facebook jurors in Dixon trial due back in court
Five of the jurors who convicted Baltimore Mayor Sheila Dixon on a misdemeanor embezzlement charge are being hauled back to court for the hearing on her motion for a new trial.
A spokesman for the Maryland Judiciary, Darrell Pressley, tells The Associated Press that the five jurors who became friends on Facebook during the trial have been asked by Judge Dennis Sweeney to appear at the January 6 hearing.
The defense in court papers filed Tuesday notes that Judge Sweeney sent the jurors a letter dated December 22 instructed them not to discuss the case with anyone, in advance of next week’s hearing.
Those jurors include Elaine Pollack, Juror Number 11, and Shiron Davis, Juror Number 6.
Dixon’s lawyers argue that those jurors disregarded Sweeney’s instructions not to discuss the case outside the courthouse. They also say two of those five jurors lied during jury selection.
University of Baltimore law professor Byron Warnken says the fact that jurors are being asked to attend the hearing means that they’ll be expected to testify. He says it’s very unusual for jurors to be involved in post-trial proceedings.
The full defense motion is below the fold.
(Continue reading…)
Judge cracks down on Twitter at Dixon trial
WBAL.com reports on a Daily Record report
Reporters covering Mayor Sheila Dixon’s theft trial have been twittering away from the courtroom all week long.
But no more.
The Daily Record reports Judge Dennis Sweeney is threatening to eject any reporter who lets his fingers do the talking while court is in session.
Wednesday’s Live Tweets from the Sheila Dixon Trial
The Baltimore Sun now has this Twitter list of media members tweeting from inside the court room. None of them are Sun reporters, as we noted Monday.
Today’s session of the Sheila Dixon trial starts at 9 a.m. WBAL TV has live updates here.
You can also follow the trial on Twitter via the #dixontrial hashtag. Be sure to include the hashtag if you’re tweeting about the trial whether you’re in the courtroom or not. We have included updates from that hashtag below. These updates are from others tweeting about this hashtag.
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