Jury takes week off, gives defense 'great concern'
FAMILY SECRETS | Vacationing judge may be reason

September 14, 2007
BY STEVE WARMBIR Staff Reporter/swarmbir@suntimes.com
In a move generating concern among the defense, the federal jury in the Family Secrets mob case went home Thursday without reaching a verdict in the second phase of its deliberations -- and decided to wait a week to begin again.
The jury of five men and seven women usually does not work on Fridays, but court officials offered no explanation for the jury's decision not to resume work until next Thursday. Speculation centered on a theory that the jury, having bonded with the judge in the case, wants to wait for him to return from vacation to take the verdict.

But any federal judge can accept the verdict. The jury is assigning responsibility for 18 mob murders, and its decision will greatly affect the possible penalties faced by four defendants.

The jury's lengthy time off could spark the defense to request a mistrial.

"I do not consider this appropriate," said Rick Halprin, the attorney for Joseph "Joey the Clown" Lombardo. "This is a matter of great concern to me. I will take whatever measures I deem appropriate to protect the interests of my client."