Conviction overturned in Florida congresswomanâs fraud case
The 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, in a 7-4 decision, ordered a new trial for Corrine Brown, who was convicted in 2017 on 18 felony counts related to an alleged charity scam.
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In this May 5, 2017 photo, former U.S. Rep. Corrine Brown walks to the federal courthouse in Jacksonville, Fla. [ BOB SELF | AP ]
By Jim Saunders
Updated Yesterday
TALLAHASSEE â A divided federal appeals court Thursday overturned the conviction of former Florida Congresswoman Corrine Brown on fraud and tax charges, ruling that a juror was improperly removed from her trial because he said the âHoly Spiritâ told him Brown was not guilty.
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Rep. Corrine Brown spent nearly 25 years in the U.S. House after serving in the Florida Legislature.
A divided federal appeals court Thursday overturned the conviction of former Florida Congresswoman Corrine Brown on fraud and tax charges, ruling that a juror was improperly removed from her trial because he said the “Holy Spirit” told him Brown was not guilty.
The 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, in a 7-4 decision, ordered a new trial for Brown, who was convicted in 2017 on 18 felony counts related to an alleged charity scam.
Brown’s appeal focused on whether U.S. District Judge Timothy Corrigan was justified in replacing the juror - known as Juror 13 - with an alternate because of the statement about the Holy Spirit.
Former U.S. Rep. Corrine Brown’s fraud convictions were overturned Thursday evening by a federal appeals court that ordered a new trial, citing judicial error.
The 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said a judge’s decision during the 2017 trial to remove a juror who said “the Holy Spirit” had told him Brown was innocent invalidated the trial’s result.
“Because the record establishes a substantial possibility that the juror was rendering proper jury service, the district judge abused his discretion by dismissing the juror,” said a ruling delivered by Chief Judge William Pryor. “The removal violated Brown’s right under the Sixth Amendment to a unanimous jury verdict.”
By Gordon Byrd
May 7, 2021
TALLAHASSEE -(News Service of Florida) A divided federal appeals court Thursday overturned the conviction of former Florida Congresswoman Corrine Brown on fraud and tax charges, ruling that a juror was improperly removed from her trial because he said the “Holy Spirit” told him Brown was not guilty.
The 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, in a 7-4 decision, ordered a new trial for Brown, who was convicted in 2017 on 18 felony counts related to an alleged charity scam.
Brown’s appeal focused on whether U.S. District Judge Timothy Corrigan was justified in replacing the juror - known as Juror 13 - with an alternate because of the statement about the Holy Spirit.
By Gordon Byrd
May 7, 2021
TALLAHASSEE -(News Service of Florida) A divided federal appeals court Thursday overturned the conviction of former Florida Congresswoman Corrine Brown on fraud and tax charges, ruling that a juror was improperly removed from her trial because he said the “Holy Spirit” told him Brown was not guilty.
The 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, in a 7-4 decision, ordered a new trial for Brown, who was convicted in 2017 on 18 felony counts related to an alleged charity scam.
Brown’s appeal focused on whether U.S. District Judge Timothy Corrigan was justified in replacing the juror - known as Juror 13 - with an alternate because of the statement about the Holy Spirit.