When Voir Dire Is About Politics

Federal judge Amy St. Eve of the Northern District of Illinois may be setting a record for total pages of jury questionnaires used by a single judge.  She presided over Conrad Black's trial that began a year ago this week, and approved the 45-page questionnaire used there.  Now she is hearing the trial of Tony Rezko, best known as a Barack Obama fundraiser but on trial for political corruption unrelated to Obama. 

True or false:  It's not what you know, but whom you know.

The questionnaire in Rezko's case was released recently.  It's 33 pages, and if you've been building a questionnaire collection (or keeping an eye on mine), there won't be too much in it to surprise you.  In fact, you may find it comforting to know that the lawyers in these high-budget trials choose jurors on the same information that you do.  There's an nice series on politics, though, addressing a difficult topic in a neutral and sensitive tone.  In addition to questions about whether jurors themselves have raised funds or volunteered politically, there are attitude questions like these:

• "Do you think that people get ahead financially or professionally based on whom they know?"
• "Do you think it is common for people to benefit financially from political connections or friendships?"
• "Some people believe it is improper for a company to hire people with social or political connections to government officials to get business.  Do you agree?"

The local press is covering the Rezko trial exhaustively.  The Tribune is collecting stories here, and the Sun-Times has an all-Rezko blog.

(Photo by Korean Resource Center at http://www.flickr.com/photos/krcla/362137815/; license details there.)