A defense lawyer had argued that the pin could unfairly influence jurors.

In such cases defendants may try to compensate for their vulnerability in court by shaping public opinion - hoping to influence prosecutors and potential jurors.

He accused government officials of leaking information to influence potential jurors and said, "If they had any confidence in the case, they'd keep quiet."

The judge said the commercials could influence prospective jurors.

But the court agreed that the "incessant drumbeat" of publicity was likely to influence jurors.

Judge Vining ruled that the literature might influence jurors.

Legal experts said they believed that the defense made the assertion to try to influence potential jurors with material that might not be admissible in court.

And they also threaten to influence potential jurors.

Looking to influence potential jurors, Schultz presented himself to the town as a country squire and good citizen.

"I hope we haven't influenced jurors to let somebody off who deserved to be locked up," he said earnestly the other day.