White Plains federal Judge Kenneth Karas delayed the start of closing arguments [in Sen. Malcolm Smith's corruption trial] so he could question all 16 jurors one-by-one about whether they had heard of the Silver case — in which the state Assembly speaker is accused of taking $4 million in bribes and kickbacks.

After about 45 minutes, Karas decided the case could continue.

More => http://nypost.com/2015/01/23/silvers-scandal-complicates-malcolm-smiths-bribery-trial/