Despite gaining the support to the Alabama Attorney General’s office earlier in the day, Mobile County District Attorney John Tyson continued to speak in legal generalities as he told reporters at 4:30 p.m. that his office was not yet ready to file any motions or affidavits regarding three jurors who have complained about the handling of their votes on charges in the state’s case against ex-Mobile County Circuit Court Judge Herman Thomas.

Special Judge Claud Neilson of Marengo County presided over the trial and issued 14 acquittals for verdicts on which the jury could fail to reach a unanimous decision

“Were trying to understand facts first and then law at this point,” Tyson said. “We’ve talked briefly,” he added in regard to discussions held with the AG’s office.

Tyson said, of the three jurors who came to the district attorney’s office with complaints, “two had meritorial complaints.” He did say however, he would continue to take all three seriously until he can interpret the law correctly in relation to each of the specific complaints.

When asked if the jurors might be complaining about whether there was a unanimous decision in seven of the verdicts they are believed to have issued, Tyson said, “that’s what they might say.”

At this time no depositions or sworn statements have been taken from the jurors.

“That’s something that’s in the works,” Tyson said.

Tyson admitted one key issue is why no jurors spoke up when some of the verdicts in question were read in front of them.

Earlier in the day, Attorney General Troy King told reporters, in his opinion, that when there is a hung jury, the result is a mistrial. King also offered Tyson’s office the use of AG staff and legal research as well as other support.

As to the reality of a hung jury, Tyson said, jurors have three choices. They can either vote, guilty, not guilty or they can disagree, he said. King added that the judge does have the discretion, but ruling on undecided counts is not done frequently.

“To wish against a power that exists is frivolous,” King said.

When Lagniappe inquired as to whether Tyson thinks there’s any suspicious activity, he denied thinking anything odd or illegal went on behind the scenes.

“I’m not going to get into suspicions or suggest criminal activity or bad conduct,” he said. “I think we have to get this thing right.”

Tyson said the DA’s office would continue tomorrow to explore the jurors’ complaints and subsequent applicable laws to see what their options are. He was very hesitant to label any possibly motion an “appeal,” although he did admit that a writ of mandamus, a measure he called “extraordinary,” could be filed. If a Mobile County Circuit court judge refuses to hear Tyson’s petition, the Mobile County District Attorney has the option of taking his motion to the State’s Court of Criminal Appeals.