Jury foreman dismissed after bullying complaints

■ Alternate joins deliberations

NASHVILLE — A federal judge in Nashville has dismissed the foreman of a drug conspiracy trial jury after complaints of bullying in the jury room.

According to The Tennessean, U. S. District Court Judge Aleta Trauger asked that the juror’s name not be released.

The trial of Travis Gentry, Frank Randolph and Patrick Smith was in its fourth week on Thursday and the case had gone to the jury.

Trauger said she received four notes from jurors and one from the foreman. She told attorneys she made the change because of the tone of the notes and because one juror left the jury room in tears.

The defense attorneys expressed concern for the defendants’ right to a fair trial and impartial jury in the wake of the bullying.

“He’s cursing — he’s clearly being abusive to the other jurors,” said Barry Tidwell, Gentry’s lawyer.

Assistant U. S. Attorney Alex Little had earlier suggested that if the controversy stemmed from a disagreement on a singular count, the jury should be questioned further and possibly present a partial verdict before removing the foreman.

“It appears from these notes they had made progress on all but one issue,” Little said.

Trauger replaced the foreman with an alternate juror and told the jury to resume deliberations.

She said this was the first time she had experienced such conduct in jury deliberations.