All Ghislaine Maxwell Wants For Christmas Is An Acquittal
Case appears headed to jury on the day before Christmas break
The Ghislaine Maxwell defense starts today and the case appears headed to the jury on December 22.
According to a story in today’s New York Times, the defense has informed the court that they expect to present four days of testimony, at most. My pattern recognition tells me that it is more likely that they will present three days of testimony - meaning that the defense would be presented today, tomorrow and Monday, December 20. If the defense rests on Monday, the prosecution would present its rebuttal case (if it has one) on Tuesday, December 21. The judge would also likely hold the conference to determine the jury instructions on December 21. Closing arguments would be on Wednesday, December 22.
Under this schedule, the jury would begin deliberating late in the day on December 22. That is the day before the Christmas break. The court calendar of holidays shows that court will be closed on December 23 for an “administrative day” and December 24 for “Christmas (observed).
Attorney lore (based on my years as an AUSA and criminal defense attorney) is that defendants want their cases to get to the jury the day before the Christmas recess. “Peace on Earth” and “Good Will to Men” is believed to lead to gift acquittals. Also, if there are jurors who indicated at the start of deliberations that they will “never!” vote to convict, the other jurors may go along with “not guilty” verdicts to avoid having to return post-Christmas.
We'll see. The only thing I know about the future is that it has not happened yet.