A federal judge presiding over the public corruption trial of ex-sheriff Mike Carona anticipates the trial lasting into January.
Jurors — whose identities have been sealed — were promised during jury selection that the case would wrap up by Christmas. The trial began late October.
In a hearing outside the jury’s presence Wednesday, U.S. District Court Judge Andrew J. Guilford said he felt the case would last longer, and that they may need to shut down the trial during the holidays to accommodate jurors’ plans.
The trial re-starts at 12:15 p.m. today. Former Assistant Sheriff Don Haidl will continue to be cross-examined this afternoon by Carona’s attorney, Jeff Rawitz. Guilford has asked Rawitz to “pick up the pace” of his questioning — and Rawitz said he intends to finish up today.
Carona’s defense team plans to play today more excerpts of the secretly recorded audio tapes of three conversations between Haidl and Carona for the jury. The third conversation (about three hours and 30 minutes long) has been played in entirety. Carona’s lawyers have reserved the right to play the other two conversations (also three hours each) in open court — which could push back the end of the trial even further.
About the case
- Complete coverage
- Live notes from the trial
- Frank Mickadeit’s column on Carona
- Interactive of Mike Carona’s career
