Beavers defense: Toss jury pool with no black men

CHICAGO (AP) — Race has become an issue at the tax-evasion trial of Cook County Commissioner William Beavers after his attorney complained there were no black men in an initial jury pool.

Beavers' attorney Victor Henderson told the judge Tuesday he was "astonished" no black men and only a few black women were in the 50-person pool. Beavers is black.

Jury pool selection is supposed to be random. Judge James Zagel told attorneys they can investigate to determine if it was random in Beavers' case. But Zagel says if the process was done properly, he would have no authority to dismiss the pool based on race.

Henderson argued Beavers has a right to be judged by his peers. He says that should include African-American men.

Beavers has pleaded not guilty to tax evasion.