Oprah Ticket Frees Woman From Blagojevich Jury

Civic duty or Oprah? It was a pressing question in Rod Blagovejich’s retrial, after a prospective juror used her ticket to an Oprah taping as an excuse to avoid being seated. Lawyers from both sides agreed to let her slide. To be fair, it’s a pass to one of Winfrey’s last shows, notes the Chicago Tribune. So, would the former Illinois governor call it a golden ticket? “No, I think it’s effing golden,” he told a reporter. Opening statements are expected to begin Monday. Click to read about Blago's concern for his two daughters. (More Oprah Winfrey stories.)