The jury in Dr. John Najarian’s trial was still out after deliberating for about six hours Tuesday. They left the courthouse at 4 p.m. without reaching a verdict.
Najarian, the former University chief of surgery, may be convicted on up to 15 counts of embezzlement, mail fraud, tax evasion and obstruction of justice. The jury has been asked to find Najarian guilty or not guilty on each separate count.
The jury’s choice to leave on schedule suggested that a verdict is not near. U.S. District Judge Richard Kyle advised them to follow a 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. schedule, similar to the hours they kept while hearing testimony in court. However, he said, jurors could stay longer “if you feel it makes sense,” possibly meaning they could stay longer if they were close to reaching a decision.
The jury has deliberated for about 10 hours in all. Najarian’s case went to the jury at noon Monday.

— Jodi Compton