The next trial to watch... (Roger Clemens)

[SeaDogStat]

Now that the Casey Anthony trial is over, here is a contender for the next media throne...

Roger Clemens on trial for perjury this week...

http://www.cnn.com/2011/CRIME/07/04/roger.clemens.trial/index.html

Washington (CNN) -- For baseball fans, July signals the midpoint of America's pastime: the All-Star Game, the full swing of pennant races.

But this year it also marks the start of a perjury trial against one of the greatest players in the sport's history.

Roger Clemens, whose career feature seven Cy Young Awards and the ninth-most all-time wins among pitchers, goes on trial this week in a federal court just blocks from the U.S. Capitol, where he allegedly lied to Congress in 2008. Jury selection is scheduled to begin on Wednesday.

Clemens, 48, has pleaded not guilty to a six-count indictment and denied he ever used steroids during this career. He was charged with one count of obstruction of justice, three counts of making false statements and two counts of perjury.

[SeaDogStat]

Clemens trial over...judge declares mistrial

http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-pn-clemens-mistrial-20110714,0,1724711.story

The judge in the Roger Clemens federal perjury trial abruptly declared a mistrial on the second day of testimony after the government inadvertently allowed the jury to hear statements from a U.S. congressman discussing the credibility of one of the key witnesses against the former All-Star baseball pitcher.

U.S. District Judge Reggie Walton was livid Thursday that a video screen was left on in the courtroom while he and the lawyers privately discussed an issue away from the jury, and yet the jurors could clearly see written comments by U.S. Rep. Elijah E. Cummings (D-Md.) during a 2008 House hearing in which Clemens testified he never used steroids or other enhancement drugs.

"Sadly, I have reached this conclusion," Walton said.

The judge continued a gag order precluding Clemens and attorneys and prosecutors discussing the case -- at least until a hearing on Sept. 2 to decide how or whether to jump start the case.