Cantrell trial begins in secret
NWI Times
May 27, 2008
nwitimes.com/news/local/cantrell-trial-begins-in-secret/article_86bdfcdb-21c5-5a74-8c1d-1b9d09f1ac42.html
HAMMOND | U.S. District Court Judge Rudy Lozano was keeping the public out of his courtroom during jury selection Tuesday morning in the public corruption trial of East Chicago political fixer Robert Cantrell.
As has happened in other high-profile trials in the courthouse recently, nearly every non-judicial seat in the court was expected to be filled by the large pool of potential jurors.
"(Lozano) wants no one in there, not even family, until jury selection ends," Court Security Officer Ray Martinez said. "He only wants the jurors and the people involved" in the courtroom.
Two Cantrell family members were allowed into the court for jury selection as the morning progressed.
Though he has never held public office, Cantrell is on trial for depriving the public of honest services because prosecutors say he convinced his public employer, the North Township trustee's office, to hire a company that was paying him under the table.
Cantrell was the subject of federal investigation for several years before he was indicted last year. Some observers say he is one of the most influential political insiders in Lake County, while others say his clout has waned greatly in recent years.
The case has received a significant amount of pre-trial publicity since Cantrell was indicted last year, which can make jury selection more time-consuming because jurors who have seen news accounts have to be quizzed on whether they were left with a bias.
Jury selection can take a day or more in high-profile federal cases.
Tuesday's move to keep the public out of jury selection was only the latest secret maneuver in the politically sensitive trial.
Numerous motions have already been filed under seal, and trial arguments have taken place in Lozano's private chambers as recently as last week.
Defense attorney Kevin Milner has publicly complained about government secrecy after prosecutors said they did not intend to hand over copies of grand jury testimony from attorney John Cantrell until the day he testifies.
But a motion filed by Milner in full public view last week hints at a broad range of evidence that could be introduced at trial, including information on:
* "Possible violence" associated with Gilbert Gutierrez, a politically connected East Chicago court official who has been called a "person of interest" in the investigation into the 1992 killing of Guadalupe Castaneda;
* Robert Cantrell's alleged use or involvement with absentee ballots in East Chicago;
* Letters submitted by Anthony DeBonis, who had political ties to the administration of former East Chicago Mayor Robert Pastrick;
* Any hirings or firings by Lake Superior Court Judge Julie Cantrell, Robert Cantrell's daughter, who was elected in 1996;
* A grant of immunity from prosecution to John Cantrell, the son of Robert Cantrell.
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