Judge Irene Berger’s courtroom was closed this morning to media and families, who waited in the hall while the jury deliberated. Berger then called for the lawyers in the case to meet with her privately in the courtroom. Prosecutors arrived quickly, since they were in the building, followed a short while later by Blankenship and his attorneys. The meeting is ongoing. A U.S. marshal refused our request to deliver a note of protest to the judge regarding the closed meeting.