Alternate

Brooklyn Court Oversight: Alternate Jurors Left Behind for 12 Hours After Deliberations

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Brooklyn, NY — In an unusual turn of events at the Brooklyn Supreme Court, two alternate jurors were accidentally left behind in a separate room, resulting in an almost 12-hour confinement. The incident occurred when court officials failed to inform these alternates of their release after typical court hours. The mishap began on April 10 when these jurors, assigned to a civil trial lasting two weeks, were seated separately from the main jury panel to observe final deliberations. Their long day started punctually and included a midday break for lunch. However, after resuming and being … Read more

Sick Juror Delays Deliberations in Joseph Bongiovanni Bribery Trial: Will Alternate Replace?

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Buffalo, New York – The Joseph Bongiovanni bribery and corruption trial took an unexpected turn on Wednesday when jurors were sent home due to a sick juror. U.S. District Judge Lawrence Vilardo acknowledged that even a federal judge cannot prevent someone from falling ill. The trial, which began on April 3 after 24 days of testimony and closing arguments, was set to enter its fifth day of deliberations. Joseph Bongiovanni, a former Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agent, faces 15 felony charges including accepting bribes, shielding drug traffickers, and lying to investigators. Defense attorneys for Bongiovanni … Read more