Investigators for Clemens broke rules, judge says

Investigators working for Roger Clemens' defense team violated court rules by contacting jurors after a mistrial was granted, the federal judge presiding over the perjury case has said.

U.S. District Judge Reggie B. Walton also asked jurors in a September 5 letter if they would now be willing to speak with the prosecution, which was granted permission to communicate with them only if they are willing.

Walton wrote in the letter that jurors are under "absolutely no obligation" to speak with prosecutors. If they decline, he will make it clear to attorneys that they aren't to be contacted.

The judge also assured the jurors that no one at the court provided their contact information to either party.

Charged with lying to Congress about his alleged steroids use, Clemens is scheduled to be retried next year. Jury selection is set for April 17.

Walton declared a mistrial on July 14, just the second day of the trial, after he ruled the prosecution presented evidence deemed inadmissible in court -- video footage from the Congressional hearings on steroid use in baseball that showed a congressman reading affidavit from the wife of Andy Pettitte, Clemens' former teammate and friend.

The affidavit corroborated Pettitte's claims that Clemens had discussed the use of human growth hormone with him.