Potential juror bias weighed in conspiracy trial of Oregon militants

The integrity of a federal court jury was called into question on Tuesday as the panel deliberated for a third day in the trial of seven people charged with conspiracy in the armed takeover of a U.S. wildlife center in Oregon this year. The issue came to light when the 12-member panel sent a handwritten note to the presiding judge stating that one juror had professed being "very biased" at the start of deliberations last week, citing his past employment with the federal Bureau of Land Management (BLM). The letter, a copy of which was shown to journalists by defense lawyers, did not make clear whether the juror's supposed bias was for or against the accused.