Opening Statements Begin in Blagojevich Retrial

By Chuck Sudo in News on May 2, 2011 9:00PM

Jurors for the Rod Blagojevich retrial have been sworn in and seated, and opening statements from both sides have commenced. The fifteen women and three men who will determine Blagojevich's fate have been a point of contention by Blagojevich's legal team. Last week, Blago's attorney's objected to three members of the jury pool who wrote on their initial jury forms that they thought the former governor was guilty.

Judge James Zagel allowed them to remain in the pool.saying that Blago's very public pleas of innocence brought it upon himself. Antics like attorney Sam Adam, Jr., who led Blagojevich's team during the first trial, visiting and chatting with his former client during jury selection probably didn't help Blagojevich's cause.

NBC Chicago's Ward Room has descriptions of the jurors on the trial.