Deputy U.S. marshals are suddenly refusing to open the overflow courtroom this morning, citing limited interest in the trial.
The overflow room is where we file this blog. Representatives aren't responding to requests to open the room, where an audio feed from Judge James Zagel's courtroom plays. They claim they'll only open the room if Zagel's courtroom fills up, an unlikely possibility.
The former governor was greeted in the Dirksen Federal Courthouse this morning by an eager fan who ran up and gave him a hug. After heading through security, Blagojevich said "good morning," and headed over to the windows where construction workers were watching him. He gave the workers a big thumbs-up.
It was the same symbol his lawyer, Sheldon Sorosky, gave to the media when he entered the courthouse earlier this morning.
Zagel will continue questioning jurors today with the goal of getting to a pool of 40 potential jurors, who will then be winnowed down by both sides. Ultimately, 12 jurors and 6 alternates will make the cut.
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