Judge Continues Ryan Trial

Deliberations are set to start over Wednesday morning in the federal corruption trial of former Illinois Governor George Ryan. Judge Rebecca Pallmeyer Tuesday, rejected a defense argument against picking two alternates to become jurors, replacing two others who were dismissed from the case Monday. Judge Pallmeyer says that she could still reconsider her decision to restart deliberations, keeping the possibility of a mistrial. Lawyers in the case met with Pallmeyer for nearly four hours before she made her decision. She told the jury today that the removal of two jurors and the adding of two alternate jurors should in no way enter into their deliberations. She then began reading them legal instructions, which amount to 148 pages. Meanwhile, the problems in the Ryan trial are fanning debate whether jurors should be better screened for criminal records. Federal courts have no requirement that jurors undergo background checks. Illinois courts are the same but many counties go a step further then the typical jury questionnaires. In Winnebago County, the State`s Attorney`s office says there is an extensive process that is designed to weed out undesirable jurors. Assistant State`s Attorney Chuck Prorock says as long as he`s been at the office, there has never been a juror dismissed for background problems. He says the checks are not expensive because they`re done internally.