After a week of deliberations, the four alternate jurors have become the prime distraction for the assembled press corps and spectators in the courtroom.
On Thursday the alternates - three women and one man - caused something of a stir when they showed up in matching bright yellow shirts, hardly bothering to suppress their snickering as the judge addressed the main panel of jurors.
For nearly four weeks, 16 jurors heard all the evidence in Edwards' case. After the closing arguments, Judge Catherine Eagles made the unorthodox decision to extend the service of the four alternate jurors, while the primary panel of 12 deliberated the six felony charges. So for the last five days of deliberations, the gang of four alternates has been required to show up at court each day, sent to a holding room with instructions to avoid talking about the case.
