A federal judge on Wednesday rebuffed a bid by the family trust that owns Johnson Utilities to block state utility regulators from taking control of the water and sewage company.

A federal judge refused Thursday to allow state utility regulators to seize control of Johnson Utilities, at least for the time being.

Gary Pierce and his fellow co-defendants aren’t off the hook yet, despite the government’s failed attempt to convince a jury they were part of a scheme to bribe the former utility regulator.

A majority of the jurors in the “Ghost Lobby” trial voted for acquittal for all four defendants, foreperson Taryn Jeffries said in an exclusive interview with the Arizona Capitol Times.

The state's largest electric utility already has set aside close to $11 million to make elections this year come out the way it wants.

After just about three and a half days of deliberation, 12 jurors could not reach a unanimous decision in the “Ghost Lobby” trial, and U.S. District Court Judge John Tuchi declared a mistrial.

A state hearing officer recommends the Arizona Corporation Commission seize control of Johnson Utilities from the current management, at least temporarily, and install its own manager.

Arizona’s most significant public corruption case since the 1988 impeachment of Gov. Evan Mecham has come down to this: Four defendants. Fourteen days of testimony. Nearly four dozen witnesses.

The so-called “Ghost Lobby” trial was the summer blockbuster no juror bought a ticket to see.

Gayle Burns will be allowed to testify in the so-called “Ghost Lobby” trial after U.S. District Court Judge John Tuchi determined the defense had opened the door to her testimony.