Lawyers in Griego corruption case trim jury pool
ALBUQUERQUE — A week before former state Sen. Phil Griego is scheduled to stand trial on corruption charges, lawyers and the judge in the case on Tuesday eliminated nearly half of the potential jurors. A leading reason for the dismissals: expressions of harsh feelings toward politicians.
Prosecutors from the state Attorney General’s Office and Griego’s lawyer, Tom Clark of Santa Fe, agreed to excuse dozens of members of the jury pool for reasons that also included health issues, out-of-state travel plans and complications with work or family duties. When the prosecution and defense couldn’t agree on a potential juror, State District Judge Brett Loveless made the decision. Clark said that by his “rough count” 82 potential jurors were eliminated, leaving 87 still available when a final selection is made Monday.
Though many have speculated that the two sides might reach a plea deal before Griego’s case goes to trial, there was no sign of that at Tuesday’s hearing. Court documents show negotiations for a plea fell apart early this year.
Nearly all of the potential jurors who Loveless dismissed were those that Clark wanted to excused because of negative attitudes toward politicians in general or Griego in particular that emerged in responses to questionnaires.
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