Juror sent home with COVID, but political bribery trial moves forward Juror sent home with COVID, but political bribery trial moves forward Arkansas Nonprofit News Network Former state senator Gilbert Baker (left) and former circuit judge Mike Maggio The long-awaited bribery trial of former state Sen. Gilbert Baker, a former Republican lobbyist from Conway, began Monday with news that a juror had contracted the coronavirus. The unidentified juror had been present for jury selection Friday and contacted the court Sunday night to advise of the diagnosis. Advertisement U.S. District Judge D. Price Marshall Jr. excused the juror, who did not attend Monday’s court session, and named one of three alternates to fill the vacancy, Marshall did so only after polling the jurors to make sure none of them objected to continuing with the trial. None did.