A note from a juror again briefly stalled deliberations in the John Edwards campaign-finance trial today, causing Judge Catherine Eagles to hold a closed-door session to deal with a jury matter, the third such delay in as many days.
It is unknown what information was contained in the note.
Deliberations dragged into their eighth day today adding to the anticipation of waiting for a verdict.
The judge signaled Tuesday that potential scheduling conflicts could cause further delays. Some jurors have requested time off for personal matters, like attending a child's high school graduation. The judge said she will soon have a meeting in her chambers to address those conflicts.
The panel of eight men and four women today spent the morning deliberating before breaking for lunch. They have logged more than forty hours of deliberations since lawyers ended their arguments on May 18.
Edwards and his legal team had, until today, waited out every day of deliberations from a second-floor room inside the courthouse. Early on, Edwards could sometimes be seen pacing the room and looking out the window at journalists assembled outside.
Edwards was not at the courthouse this morning, but came back following a lunch break.
Edwards, a two-time presidential candidate and former senator, is accused of using nearly $1 million in donations from wealthy political backers to hide his mistress and love child during his 2008 campaign.
If convicted Edwards faces up to 30 years in prison and be fined as much as $1.5 million, although it is unlikely he would face the severest penalties.
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