Jury selection went faster today in the trial of former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich. A pool of 30 potential jurors have passed the challenges for cause stage. The Judge says they need 40 and he thinks opening arguments could come Tuesday.

The judge also said he's unlikely to let Blago attend his daughter's graduation set for late Tuesday afternoon -- unless, it sounds like, they hurry up the jury selection process to finish early.

Zagel said taking an afternoon off here and there would send the wrong message to jurors, who were asked to take off so much time out of their own lives to serve on the jury. He did say he would consider ending the day early if opening statements in the case could begin earlier.

Maybe it's just me, but I would think it's more important to conduct a thorough vetting of potential juror biases in a such a high profile trial than to worry about taking a few hours off from a trial that's expected to last four months. Plus, only those chosen will be getting any "message" by a delay of opening arguments. [More...]