SANTA MARIA, Calif. - The granddaughter of one of the jurors in the Michael Jackson case hopes to convince her grandmother to write a book about her experiences, and has already lined up a potential co-author.

 

The juror, a 79-year-old Santa Maria resident who said during jury selection that she had a grandson who was a convicted sex offender, has not yet agreed to the book, said her granddaughter, Traci Montgomery.

 

But Montgomery, a teacher in Fair Oaks, said her grandmother expressed an interest in writing a book soon after she was picked as a juror in February - "just at the beginning of the trial when she talked about being on 'Oprah' and '60 Minutes,'" Montgomery said.

 

Montgomery said she has not spoken to her grandmother about the possibility because of a California law that prohibits jurors from making book deals until 90 days after they are dismissed from service. She said an attorney advised her of the law.

 

"I'm her granddaughter. I would like to think that she would listen to me, but I don't know," Montgomery said.

 

Montgomery said her grandmother has not discussed the case with her.

 

She has enlisted Ernie Carwile, a Denver author, to co-write the possible book.

 

"It might be kind of nebulous but (Montgomery) assured me it would take place," Carwile said Friday. "We have nothing in writing or anything, and can't until 90 days."

 

The informal agreement between Carwile and Montgomery was first reported Friday by the Los Angeles Times.

 

Carwile is the author of a book called "The Max Chronicles Presents The Storyteller 1." He said he went to junior high school with Montgomery's father and that Montgomery became a fan of his writing.

 

Judge Rodney S. Melville has repeatedly admonished jurors not to discuss the case with anyone except their fellow panelists during deliberations, but it was unclear whether jurors were barred from telling people they were on the panel.

 

Melville's office referred questions to court administrator Darrel Parker, who did not immediately return a call for comment.

 

Loyola Law School professor Laurie Levenson, who has observed the trial, was not concerned.

 

"I don't think it's anything to get too excited about. What does it tell us? It tells us it's a celebrity case and people will try to make money from it. It doesn't tell us if we really have a juror who has engaged in any misconduct," Levenson said. "It's just a preview of things to come."

 

During jury selection, the juror said her grandson was on probation for committing a sex crime that did not involve children. She also wrote him a letter in which she said he had made "some bad decisions."

 

"And I love him dearly," she said.

 

Asked if her grandson believes he was treated fairly in the legal process, she responded, "You bet he does." She said she wanted the same treatment for Jackson.

 

"I really want Mr. Jackson to get a fair trial," she said.

WOW,,,,Thanks for Sharing!!

Hmm...that could be interesting. At least this is coming from a juror who pretty much supported him, so this might be really good.