Litigation

Second Turner Jury Is Hung

By Nancy Palencia

Hal Turner’s case, marked with theatrical elements,  has  once again led to a hung jury.  This case is now a mistrial for the shock jockey accused of threatening the lives of three federal appellate judges.

After three days of deliberation, the jury in Turner’s case decided they could not reach a verdict. Turner?s first trial ended with the same outcome. Today Judge Donald Walter, the judge proceeding over the Turner case, officially declared a mistrial, and scheduled a third trial for Turner on April 12.

Turner, a former FBI informant, is an internet radio show host and blogger whose audience is described as consisting largely of white supremacists and neo-Nazis. While working for the FBI, Turner collected information on some of the extremist who made up his audience.

Turner was tried for a statement posted on his blog, which said that the federal district judges who upheld a Chicago based ban on handguns ?deserved to be killed.? He is charged with unlawfully threatening three federal appellate judges and if found guilty he could face a maximum of 10 years in prison.

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Full post as published by The Gavel on March 11, 2010 (boomark / email).