Closing Arguments Expected in Rubashkin Child-Labor Trial

Closing arguments in the child labor case against former Agriprocessors executive Sholom Rubashkin won't start until Wednesday afternoon at the earliest.

Jurors were originally told to the report to the courtroom at 10 a.m. Wednesday, but the court hasn't finished preparing jury instructions.

Prosecutors and defense attorneys had started earlier in the day and by 10 a.m. were still arguing what elements and wording they wanted in the instructions.

At about 10:15 a.m., Judge Nathan Callahan sent jurors home and asked them to return at 12:30 p.m.

“I'm going to give you all the time you need,” Callahan told attorneys for both sides. “We are not going to rush anything.”

In the meantime, the judge is writing a set of instructions based on his decisions.

Rubashkin is charged with 67 counts of child labor violations - down from 83 - for allegedly allowing people under age 18 to work at Agriprocessor's Postville plant, exposing them to dangerous chemicals and power-driven machinery.

On Tuesday, Callahan dismissed 16 counts because five of the alleged minor employees didn't take the stand.

By Jeff Reinitz Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier