Do you think the media played a role in the outcome of the trial of Larry Langford?

the media didnt play a role in his conviction, his criminal activities did!! this is all on him. its not anyone else's fault but his! he has been found guilty and should own up to the charges now and stop wasting anymore time or tax payer's money for appeals!! he is a crooked politician like most of them all!! his only problem is that he was caught unlike the rest!!

He may be guilty> I am not the judge of that, but what concerns me is how fast they returned the verdicts. All those days of testimonies and it only took them less than two hours. That is less than 2 minutes per count. Hell it took 1 of those minutes to sign the verdict. His trial was unfair and media did play a role in their decision. They already had their minds made up when they first entered the courtroom. This is a mans life we are talking about here and those jurors were just ready to go home and make dinner!

He may in fact have been guilty, but the onslaught of the media was in fact obvious in tone and tenor regarding how "we as a people" should view LL. In this day and age we live the media forms the opinions of many people in just about everything in life. Everything. You can say he's guilty, as the jury did in just a couple of hours (??), but don't pretend the media didn't have him convicted long before this show even began.

MrsMe. I'm confused why you reserve "judgement" on the guilt or innocence of Mr. Langford even when the testimony and applicable law is available for your review but seem to have no issue judging the jury based solely on the timeframe of their deliberations.

I watched the remarks Larry made after the trial..Like most people in a uncomfortable situation blaming someone else is human nature....Under emotional stress I really wish he had made no comment....If someone offered you $50,000.00 worth of "free gifts" and you were in that positon of office..What would you think their motives would be?..The Seilgeman defense of just doing a favor for a friend didn't work for Don either..

I don't enjoy seeing anyone's downfall, but I'm a bit confused about the accusations regarding the meda and their role in the Mayor's conviction. My understanding is that the jurors swore that they were unfamiliar with the case prior to their being selected and also swore that they would avoid the media coverage of this case while seated on the jury. So, how did the media influence them if they avoided watching the news, reading newspapers, and discussing the case with others outside the jury for the duration of the trial?

His trial was unfair and media did play a role in their decision. They already had their minds made up when they first entered the courtroom. This is a mans life we are talking about here and those jurors were just ready to go home and make dinner!

Larry Langford Had NO RIGHT to lash at at John Papke and call him a snake and the worst reporter in Birmingham. I've watched nbc everyday and he stated nothing but facts and information. Larry needs to keep his big mouth shut. He is VERY racial from what I know of him. He's made several comments about separatism and how blacks are SO much better at things then whites. None on camera of course, but at people who have worked closely with him and resigned or quit after being told to "remember what color they are". He is getting his judgment and he needs to take it and keep his pampas, prideful mouth shut!!!

Btw, his defense team stunk, too. He may have a new trial just on that fact alone. Others there have said they seemed amazingly incompetent in many ways (matters of law & strategy). And, people, the goal of a defense team should be to get thier man off. They should have pressed, and pressed heavily over and over and over again the proverbial "race card." (And I say that as a white man.) If I was LL, I would have insisted they do just that.

I don't know if race had anything to do with it or not, I agree the jury must of had their minds already made up. 1 1/2 to 2 hours is mighty fast for a verdict of 60 counts. ???

The media did their job of providing the facts as they arose. LL is crooked and is playing the race factor, along with other Ala politicians of the same Black race. Justice is determined by facts presented to the jury, not the media. LL was living beyond his means and got caught with his hands in other pockets. What other honest person would buy the lavish things he bought with money he didn't have of his own. I think the Fed Judge in B'ham should be investigated for declaring him unable to pay for his defense team. Any other lesser known person would have had to sell everything they had to pay for their defense team. If the payoffs from the dog tracks are true, he probably didn't pay taxes on that either. If it looks bad, smells bad and acts bad - it's got to be bad. Sorry LL, join Scrushy, the ex-governor, Madoff and other crooks in the Fed Pen. Don't rob us poor folks any more, and take your medicine like the honest man you claim to be.

I could not believe what Langford said after the verdict. I was embarrassed for him, and for the city he represented as mayor! His comment about corrupt government and corrupt politicians was astounding! This is what this trial was about - removing a corrupt politician and holding his feet to the fire! And he WAS tried before a jury of his peers! They were not all Koreans or Martians! They were the people of Alabama, regardless of the color of their skin! Langford said his side of the story has never been heard by the public. If that was the case, if he has not been fairly represented in the news, why has he not started a website, or written articles or a book? I've been willing to hear both sides of the story since the accusations were made. Only the jury heard both sides of the story, and they found him guilty. So he can blame the media, the government, corrupt politicians, racism, or the neighbor's dog. he is not the only one facing jail time. Some white guys are, too.

inadaquacy of defense is in fact grounds for a retrial! however, the prosecution presented its case for more than 2 days and the defense only presented its case for about 3 hrs! come on!! if they (prosecution) had that much evidence against this man and it took that long to present it, shouldnt the defense need the same amount of time? i mean, what was their argument? what defense strategy did the defense take? either way, his defense attorney lacked the evidence to prove otherwise! if he felt that the media would have effect on the verdict, why didnt his attorney ask for a gag order? my opinion, which means nothing, is that this is his actual defense!! the "race card", " inadaquate defense", and " media interference". he is free on bail until his sentencing hearing! i honestly believe he is a flight risk and should be retained. im somewhat biased though! i think ALL politicians are crooked! so take it for what its worth.

The area media DID NOT play a role in Larry Lankford's conviction. The jury found him guilty based on the UNQUESTIONABLE, UNDISPUTED evidence in the trial. Lankford's claim of media biase and racial injustice will be the basis for his Appeal, beacuse he WILL NEVER get an Evidentuary Appeal, because it is IRON CLAD and UNQUESTIONABLE. Other wise, SOME of the jury would have had questions.

When the jury foreman read the counts and the jury voted the first time...it was UNAMIOUS...on the first reading. Therefore no need for documention review and or deliberation. Lankford's Appeals will ALL be denied too.

On the flip side. I AM CONVINCED that most of the NATIONAL media outlets are very, very Republican Biased... as are most national journalist. However, area media bias against Lankford IS NOT THE CASE. If anything, the Birmingahm News is BIASED toward Lankford. Other than them...I have seen nothing in any other AREA news agencies, or reporter-journalist that was anything other than honest journalism. Lankford was found quilty because the EVIDENCE PROVED him guilty!

Lankford says his side of the story has not been told. So, why did he not take the stand and tell us his side. Could it be a little thing called perjury??

His comment as he left the courthouse after the defense rested was "it's in the Lord's hands now". Well, Be not deceived, God is not mocked for whatsoever a man soweth that shall he also reap. Funny how it was in God's hand's wutil he was found guilty then all of a sudden it became racial. You really think God is a racist???

In know way did the media play a role in Larry Lankfords conviction. I think he owes John Pappke an apology. That was a mean and nasty thing for him to say. I cannot beleive that his wife blasted Alabama the way she did. Thay are trying to blame this all on racisum. The interveiw with the media after court was a joke. He was so cocky and made a joke about everything.He is guilty and he needs to serve every year they give him and more.The jury didn,t need two or three days to make a decision because the all the evidence was given quite clearly.I hope they do not give him a appeal. he does not deserve it. HE IS GUILTY.

why do you people call langford MR? he's nothing but a racist crook, he got what he deserved. So why dont you people quit whinning and get over it!!! is this going to go on like that 16th street bombing? dang, LET IT GO.

I think media was consistently soft on Langford. The only news outlets that seemed to actually cover his antics were Birmingham Weekly and Black & White.

I feel it was racist, if it had been a white he would have went straight to jail

I personally DO believe the media had a role in placing the outcome of this trial. Whether we like the former mayor or not, we've got to admit it takes longer than 2 hours to fairly come up with anything for 60 counts. I know that the jurors were asked if you had any thoughts on this case before hand but you'd have to be living under a rock not to know about what was going on with Bham's mayor. Let's be Real...
And as for Monk 75, that was an ignorant comment to make about the bombing...that doesn't begin to compare.

Monk75 you are a joke. Your comments are so stupid, reread that junk u write. You are a racist yourself. I think the media did play a role in the Larry Langford case. I listened to all of that garbage. The media has always been unfair. That's how they make money. They painted him guilty from day one. I also think he may have been guilty. Larry Langford was just doing what all politicians do! Try to get over. Maybe he didn't do it only for the money; he may have just wanted to help a friend. But we are all guilty of helping our friends at some point in our lives. I also think the jurors formed their opinion about LL before the trial ever started. I watched the reviewed trial. The man was not guilty beyond reasonable doubt. There was doubt, therefore the jurors failed to do their due diligence. The evidence was questionable. I don't think racism had anything to do with it. I just think he had 12 angry taxpayers that were tired of the politicians lying and stealing their money. The man was done and injustice and I understand the reason he lashed out at the media, witnesses, and the jurors. He had just come to the realization that his life was about to end.... So let me be the first to apologize for LL. I love the great state of Alabama and the federal justice system and I applaud all that take part in it. Keep doing what you do. God Bless America!!!! And God Bless Blacks, White, Hispanics, and others!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Lastly, God Bless Larry Langford, I think you did some great things for the City of Birmingham as its Mayor. I will continue to pray for you and your family.

Mr. Monk u are as stupid as anyone who can't admit what they did that meaning Larry Langford and the man that jumped over the moon, how in the @@@@@ can you compare what and how something is being talked about because the 16th street bombing is as serious as u being racist and as for Mr. being guilty as u say,before u start running off at the mouth think first because sometimes your mouth overhauls u know the rest.