Jury Selection Begins in Developer Boender¿s Trial

Chicago - Jury selection is getting under way at the trial of a millionaire Chicago real estate developer accused of bribing an alderman to push through a zoning change.

The trial was slated to begin Monday, but was delayed because of a last minute appeal by Boender's attorneys.  An appeals panel denied their request to delay the trial and to disallow testimony from Boender's former attorney.

Developer Calvin Boender is charged with showering $40,000 worth of home improvements on former Alderman Isaac Carothers in return for the rezoning of the Galewood Yards neighborhood.

He also is charged with providing Carothers with free meals and sports tickets and funneling illegal campaign contributions to a Carothers relative.

Carothers has pleaded guilty and is expected to be a government witness.

Mayor Daley and 10 current and former alderman have been subpoenaed to testify in the case, but it is unclear if they will. The city has moved to quash the mayor's subpoena.

Federal Judge Robert Dow says jury selection may take all day Tuesday. But he says lawyers could get to opening statements if jury selection moves fast enough.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.