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Chances for John Edwards retrial

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    Breaking down the legality in corruption case

  • Duration 3:08
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Today John Edwards is a free man following yesterday's verdict in the -- trial this after deliberating for nine days jurors acquitting him.

And one count of violating campaign finance lies -- failing to reach a verdict on five others.

Leading the judge to declare a -- trial on those counts.

So what are the chances really prosecutors -- trying this case -- is this case tells but the line general judge Alex for rare is the host and judge now like he's also a former.

Florida criminal court judge as well so.

First things first you think there's a retrial know why.

I think the prosecution David's best shot and they didn't come close so I think there at this point they walk away his careers destroyed he's done.

Think even with that statement at the end there they says I'd like to go line guidance and -- with.

Glad he's he's.

He's done as somebody resist telling me a moment ago he's done except in his own mind OK but he's done.

So no I think the prosecution it's a different it was a pivotal case and I think frankly I think they knew was a different location they brought it really more to send the message other politicians we will come after you.

Some have suggested that the judge should have been tapper is on the jury.

Action to deliberate more let this go on a little longer we think about that.

Now I disagree I mean the -- the jury had come around and deadlock in the day absolutely.

We're talking about they deliberated for nine days I mean -- Celek they they really weren't trying here how do you know as a judge.

You -- it's kind of a gut feeling and you know the link to the case you know how long it took to try I mean -- had a case and I tried for four and a half months.

You know so obviously that jury it was not -- it would not expect to come back with a verdict very quickly as a lot there.

But -- it's kind of a gut feeling -- you've tried so many cases and I've I've tried.

Hundreds now at this going with the team he -- thousands but jury Charles hundreds and you get a feeling about how long -- deliberated how how much is enough.

That we attend is and you watch a story like this come to the conclusion you wonder is there a bigger picture here that we need discussed and some have brought it campaign finance laws and have suggested.

Even in court of law even with experts.

Even with that a jury -- appears.

That the campaign finance laws are so difficult and challenging to work through.

But it really shows and maybe the laws are not affected the need to be updated of what's your sense of that as a judge -- that knows the law.

It's so it's always.

Better if the legislature can rewrite laws so that they are simpler that being said there -- a lot of aspects of the law that are complicated it's a lawyer's job to break it down to make it intelligible and simple for the jury.

Even the concept of reasonable doubt jurors just struggle and pull their hair out over what is -- what is reasonable doubt mean.

So you can't just say well it's too complicated that's the lawyer's job but yeah -- if it if it can be rewritten in an easier way.

The legislation should do it but but let's face reality politicians live in the world of plausible the liability they will skirt those laws you can -- -- among -- ways as you want -- always be.

A buffer between the politician in the back.

And you're just never gonna have.

Get over combat -- mayor Jack they're quick personal opinion on this do you think that's what Edwards did here scraping by I I think that that's what he did absolutely.

Check out -- to have you thank you it's -- headed back next heaviest AFI.

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