Questions about Libby trial...

[tinfoilinfor2005]

1. Will there be a trial, now that there is an indictment?
2. When will it start?
3. Will it be televised?
4. Who makes up the jury?
5. Will everyone who testifies be under oath?

Sorry to be so uninformed in these matters, but I'm sure I'm not the only one (scratching head).

[shraby]

1. First there will be an arraignment

for Scooter to enter a plea, guilty or not guilty.

That's when a trial date is set.

Probably won't be televised.

12 citizens and alternates will be chosen from a jury pool..just like any trial.

Everyone who testifies in a trial does so under oath.

[merbex]

2. What I know about that

unless Libby pleads guilty and waives his right to trial there will be a trial

I heard someone on tv who sounded as if he knew speculate that the trial would be set for March or April 06 - but you must of course factor in delays and extensions

It will definitely WILL NOT be televised. Federal Courts do not allow cameras in the courtroom

Your fellow citizens make up the jury pool

Yes, everyone testifies under oath and every American is allowed to plead the 5th Amendment which protects them from self incrimination

Any bets on who would take the 5th in this case?

[spindrifter]

3. Don't necessarily look for quick action.

Scooter may well be negotiating a plea bargain as we speak. If there is a trial there will undoubtedly be a lot of work to decide what to do about the "privileged" information that both sides will be dealing with. It will be interesting to see if Fitzg. simply gives him one or two counts--a perjury and a false statement count as his offer. Or will he drop them down to misdemeanors. Either way, Libby loses his bar card, as they are moral turpitude crimes.
Of course, the admin. may either want to stretch this till after the '06 mid-terms because it will not affect them so badly and they will believe that the public only remembers things for a week or 10 days. Problem is that that could leave a lot of time for investigators to "clarify" the picture and bring more into focus.

[tinfoilinfor2005]

4. And would a plea bargain involve his passing on information

against other guilty parties? And if so, is that what Fitzgerald might be hoping for?

[madeline_con]

5. Is the question now....

would he spend 30 years in the slammer for DUYH-bya and the gang?

[spindrifter]

6. Not necessarily.

The plea bargain could involve the P's decision that some counts are weaker than others. Conviction on any crime of deception--perjury, false statement, etc. is going to mean that the offender will be impeachable whenever he testifies in a sworn proceeding. Making a deal means that someone else's attorney is going to be able to argue that your testimony is biased. Neither is a good thing. Too bad for Scooter that he took the first fall--his maneuvering should signal what is likely going to be coming up for R*ver and Ch*ney.

[No Exit]

7. If there are no misdemeanors that fit the facts of the crimes--

and there isn't a corresponding misdemeanor for each and every one of the sets of facts that make up Scooter's alleged crimes--then Fitz CAN'T drop a felony down to a misdemeanor.

[AndyTiedye]

8. A Quick Guilty Plea or Else Scooter Will "Commit Suicide"

The regime does not want a long trial. They really really don't want that.