John Edwards Jury Gets Stern Lecture from Judge - East Idaho News
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John Edwards Jury Gets Stern Lecture from Judge

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Getty 041212 JohnEdwards?  SQUARESPACE CACHEVERSION=1338318301806Sara D. Davis/Getty Images(GREENSBORO, N.C.) — The judge in John Edwards’ mistress-and-money trial appeared to scold jurors Tuesday, slightly delaying a seventh day of deliberations.

Following the long weekend, jurors returned to a closed-door meeting with the judge. It is unclear what jurors did that Judge Catherine Eagles felt compelled to hold a closed door session with them, the second such hearing since Friday.

When the court reconvened, Eagles gave a longer than normal speech to the jurors, reminding them to carefully choose their words, and not to discuss the trial in small groups or outside the jury room.

It raises the possibility that juror behavior could later be grounds for an appeal.

Jurors have deliberated the case for seven days and nearly 40 hours, methodically working through six campaign-finance charges.

Edwards, a two-time presidential candidate and former senator, is accused of using nearly $1 million in donations from wealthy political backers to hide his mistress and love child during his 2008 campaign.

The month-long trial concluded on May 18. A panel of eight men and four women has been deliberating ever since, breaking each day only for lunch.

If convicted Edwards face up to 30 years in prison and be fined as much as $1.5 million, although it is unlikely he would face the severest penalties.

Copyright 2012 ABC News Radio

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