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Aug 2, 2008 12:38 pm US/Eastern
Appeals Court: Wecht Jurors Must Be Identified
PITTSBURGH (AP) ―
A federal appeals court says the names of jurors in the case against former Allegheny County Coroner Cyril Wecht must be made public.
The 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rejected U.S. District Judge Arthur Schwab's reasons for keeping jurors' names secret.
Schwab initially said he was concerned that news organizations would interview prospective jurors' families or friends - possibly disrupting the trial.
Wecht is accused of using his former county office staff to do work that benefited his lucrative private practice.
His first trial ended with a hung jury in April. His lawyers say a new trial will amount to double jeopardy because the procedures followed by the judge when jurors deadlocked.
The appeals court is to hear oral arguments on that issue Monday.
(© 2009 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
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