By Grant Schulte for the Des Moines Register

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA — A federal judge agreed today to allow an outside review of the confidential grand jury hearing that led to charges against a former Postville slaughterhouse executive.

The decision was a victory for Sholom Rubashkin, a former vice president at Agriprocessors Inc. who faces 97 federal charges for alleged bank fraud, immigration-related crimes and other offenses.

Federal Judge Agrees to Review Rubashkin Case

By Grant Schulte for the Des Moines Register

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA — A federal judge agreed today to allow an outside review of the confidential grand jury hearing that led to charges against a former Postville slaughterhouse executive.

The decision was a victory for Sholom Rubashkin, a former vice president at Agriprocessors Inc. who faces 97 federal charges for alleged bank fraud, immigration-related crimes and other offenses.

Defense lawyers plan to call University of Iowa psychology professor Mollie W. Marti as an expert witness at a hearing about whether “improper testimony and conduct” influenced a federal grand jury’s decision to indict Rubashkin last year. Defense lawyer Guy Cook said Marti is a trained lawyer, psychologist and expert on juries.

U.S. District Judge Linda Reade said she will allow Marti to review the material, but prevented her from disclosing the contents or reviewing any related motions filed by Rubashkin’s legal team.

Prosecutors had sought to keep the grand jury transcripts private. “Such disclosure would be inappropriate in this case — certainly at this stage,” wrote Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter Deegan . Prosecutors have “serious questions regarding the value of any expert testimony on the issue — particularly testimony from the expert proposed by the defendant.”

Also Read: Agriprocessors Sale Falls Through

7 Comments

  • A proud american

    Only in America. All is being done to insure a fair trial and justice. What ever the outcome we can be proud and thankful we live here.

  • leah

    aleph,bais,gimmel.emunah+bitachon,=GEULA.stay tuned.join the bandwagon and we can bring the GEULA KLALI!!!!!!

  • Another PROUD Rubashkin supporter

    WOW! WHAT A NES WE SHOULD CONTINUE TO HEAR ONLY GOOD NEWS!!!!!!

  • In God We Trust

    In God We Trust
    that is the sign in the court room.
    federal justice system is a fair and just system.
    however the lower courts and magistrate “judges”
    need help to stay in line . so we have the more
    mature judges to put them back in line.
    the real judge can see right thrugh the game that
    investigators and small town judges play.
    may hashem help all americans and put in the
    Hearts and Minds of all federal justice members
    to look over the work of the small town justices.
    and remember the leadership of the federal justice
    department is in the hands of a new leader not a JEW.