Jurors in Cellini trial to fill out questionnaires

A federal judge in Chicago says potential jurors in the last major trial stemming from investigations of former Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s administration will start filling out questionnaires Friday.

Judge James Zagel told attorneys at a pretrial hearing Wednesday that the actual selection of jurors will begin Monday as businessman William Cellini’s trial officially gets under way.

Zagel says he wants potential jurors to answer the written questions in advance because of an unusually high demand for federal jurors in Chicago on Monday. He wants to ensure that Cellini’s jurors can start hearing testimony as soon as possible.

Cellini is accused of fraud, conspiracy and attempted extortion in an alleged shakedown of the Oscar-winning producer of “Million Dollar Baby” for a contribution to Blagojevich’s campaign.

Cellini has denied any wrongdoing.