El Chapo Trial: Questions from deliberating jurors

Chivis Martinez Borderland Beat

Full roundup of today's deliberation 

Jury asks to leave at 4:15pm.  Looks like they are nowhere near a verdict-

I wonder what the prosecution is thinking right about now? No worries yet—it just demonstrates the jury is working it.  Good for them.  [jury dismissed for the day] 

Note was sent asking for four things:

1) The transcript of a phone call regarding "ice/meth" 

May be played for the jury but more likely given the printed translated narrative of the call

2) Testimony from Rey Zambada re: "Chispiro," who supplied the cartel with ephedrine

They seem hung up on the ephedrine aspect

3) Full testimony from Alex Cifuentes

Wow…This is massive

4) Full testimony from Jorge Cifuentes

Ditto

These are indicators that this jury is carefully evaluating the evidence.  Not a slam dunk.  It would appear at least one juror is not convinced the U.S. proved the meth conspiracy charge.  Typically the foreman will ask help from the court if the empaneled can’t unanimously reach a decision. 

The jury asked for all of Cifuentes testimony-but only part of Vicente Zambada’s

The jury has just asked for the full testimony of Juan Aguayo, he is one of the agents who testified.  He testified about 400 kgs or so of marijuana being seized near San Diego. [would have never projected that request]

The Cifuentes testimony has to be prepared, meaning redaction, causing sidebar back and forth, sustaining and objections.

The foreperson is a young Hispanic female 

Jurors are given notebooks to take notes.  They can ask for as many needed.  They are not allowed to take them when court adjourns.  From personal experience unless you figure out a system of reference the notes will be useless later.

My system was simple; Fold a page in half then create an angle, this becomes a tab to write subject such as “forensic testimony” 

From Alan Feuer inside the courtroom:

The judge said he was inclined to simply give jurors the printed pages rather than spending 3 to 5 days--yes, 3 to 5 DAYS--reading back that testimony.

The jury also asked for a  phone call [to be played] in which meth is discussed and for "Rey" Zambada's testimony concerning his own role in buying ingredients for meth production. This interest in meth squares with their note from yesterday asking about ephedrine, a precursor to meth.