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Juror background checks to get a look (This article was originally published in Lawyers USA, another Dolan Media publication.) The corruption trial of former Illinois Gov. George Ryan generated headlines from the beginning. Starting with the federal indictment for receiving cash, gifts and vacations in return for steering contracts to his friends and supporters, the public was riveted by news of their governor's unsavory dealings throughout the six-month trial. But then suddenly, eight days into jury deliberations, the trial came to an abrupt stop when a local paper discovered that two jurors had failed to disclose arrest and conviction information. Immediately, the defense moved for a mistrial. U.S. District Court Judge Rebecca Pallmeyer denied the motion, and deliberations continued for another month until the former governor was convicted on 19 of 22 counts of assorted mail fraud, making false statements, attempted conspiracy and racketeering... Nancy Marder, a jury expert and professor at Chicago-Kent College of Law, expressed concern about the reaction of those reporting for jury duty. "Background checks could make jurors feel like they are under investigation, and we have enough trouble getting people to serve jury duty," she said. "It's like starting off on the wrong foot. "... "You certainly don't want a repeat of the Gov. Ryan trial, with jurors dismissed at the end of trial," said Marder. "So maybe
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