TALLAHASSEE A federal appeals court appeared divided Tuesday as it heard arguments about whether to overturn the conviction of former Florida Congresswoman Corrine Brown, who contends that a juror was improperly removed from her 2017 trial because he said the “Holy Spirit” told him Brown was not guilty of fraud and tax charges.
The full 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals is weighing whether U.S. District Judge Timothy Corrigan was justified in replacing the juror known as Juror 13 with an alternate before Brown was convicted on 18 felony counts related to a charity scam.
Paul Clement, a former U.S. solicitor general representing Brown, argued that Corrigan made a “clear legal error” by replacing the juror because of the statement about the Holy Spirit. He pointed to people commonly praying for divine guidance.
A federal appeals court appeared divided Tuesday as it heard arguments about whether to overturn the conviction of former Florida Congresswoman Corrine Brown, who contends that a juror was improperly removed from her 2017 trial because he said the “Holy Spirit” told him Brown was not guilty of fraud
TALLAHASSEE Federal prosecutors have asked an appeals court to uphold the conviction of former Congresswoman Corrine Brown on fraud and tax charges, pushing back against arguments that a juror was improperly replaced after he said the “Holy Spirit” told him Brown was not guilty.
Prosecutors last week filed a 69-page brief, as the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals prepares to hear arguments Feb. 22 about whether it should order a new trial.
Brown’s attorneys contend that U.S. District Judge Timothy Corrigan’s decision to replace the juror during the 2017 trial discriminated on the basis of religion and deprived the former Democratic congresswoman of her constitutional rights.
TALLAHASSEE Federal prosecutors have asked an appeals court to uphold the conviction of former U.S. Rep. Corrine Brown on fraud and tax charges, pushing back against arguments that a juror was improperly replaced after he said the “Holy Spirit” told him Brown was not guilty.
Prosecutors last week filed a 69-page brief, as the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals prepares to hear arguments Feb. 22 about whether it should order a new trial.
Brown’s attorneys contend that U.S. District Judge Timothy Corrigan’s decision to replace the juror during the 2017 trial discriminated on the basis of religion and deprived the former Democratic congresswoman of her constitutional rights.