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A Journalist's Look Inside The Libby Deliberations

By Hillary Profita

March 6, 2007 / 2:50 PM EST / CBS News

(CBS)

If you've been a follower of the Libby trial drama over the past several weeks, you'll know that searching for a jury became a particularly thorny problem along the way. That's because in a Washington-based trial that cuts through the intersection of media and politics, everyone seemed to have some connection to a person involved with the case.

As it turns out, however, one juror ended up being particularly useful to the media. Denis Collins, a journalist who has written for the Washington Post, among other papers, appeared outside of the courthouse immediately following the verdict to provide a detailed account of the jury's deliberations and answer questions from reporters.

For a trial that has garnered so much media attention, that's a rare and valuable bonus.

CBS producer Deirdre Hester, who has covered the trial from the beginning, told us that Collins' statements were "absolutely" helpful to journalists in reporting the story.

"I think the jurors were well aware of the tremendous interest from the media," she said. "Collins said the other jurors did not feel comfortable coming out and talking."

But Collins felt an obligation as a journalist to share details with reporters about deliberations. "He said because of his profession he 'didn't think he could just walk away and not say anything,'" said Hester.