One Blagojevich juror not surprised some counts were overturned
It's been four years since John McParland served on the jury that convicted former Gov. Rod Blagojevich.
But the 56-year-old Villa Park man, who works as a custodian for a school district, has maintained curiosity in the case and would regularly check on the status of the former governor's appeal.
McParland said in an interview Tuesday night that he wasn't surprised at least some of the counts against Blagojevich were overturned.
"I figure it's taken these judges a year and a half. I figure something was going to happen, whether something would've been dropped, which did happen," McParland said.
McParland, the only male juror on the 12-person jury, stands by the guilty verdicts he and other jurors rendered in the corruption case, saying they made their decision based on what was presented in court.
"What we were given - whether we think he was guilty or not - it's what we were given," he said.
In its ruling, the appeals court ruled that instructions given to jurors didn't differentiate between common political wheeling and dealing versus the swap of an official act for a private payment - a distinction that led to five of the 18 counts being dismissed.
McParland said he does recall jurors asking the judge some questions to clarify procedures, but "as far as we know, we were told everything."
"It just seemed good enough - what we were given."
The jury foreman in the case, Connie Wilson formerly of Naperville, by email said only about the appellate court ruling: "Our courts continue to proceed as they should in making sure the judicial process is followed for all citizens."