The judge overseeing the John Edwards campaign corruption trial sent the jury home Wednesday after eight days of talks without a verdict and released the four alternate jurors, who have garnered attention for their matching shirts but have not participated in the deliberations.

U.S. District Court Judge Catherine C. Eagles cautioned the alternates not to discuss or read media reports about the trial in case they need to be recalled. Eagles gave no indication whether she believed the 12 jurors are any closer to deciding the fate of the two-time Democratic presidential candidate.

The four alternate jurors began drawing attention last week when they wore the same color shirts, including shades of yellow, red and, on Wednesday, purple. The alternate jurors appeared ecstatic they were going home, with one woman pumping her fist in apparent delight.

“This means you can go back to your lives,’’ Eagles told the alternates. “Everyone in the courtroom will miss your cheerful faces and regret not knowing the color for tomorrow.’’

The move came after Eagles met behind closed doors with prosecutors and Edwards’ defense lawyers at least six times in the last three days court was in session, providing no public explanation other than that they were discussing a “juror issue’’ and a “note from a juror.’’

Kieran Shanahan, a former federal prosecutor and Raleigh defense attorney who has been attending the trial, said if the issue involved the entire jury, proper procedure would be for Eagles to read the note in open court. However, if the issue involves a single juror, the judge could be trying to protect that individual’s privacy, he said.

“If she is communicating with the jury, she should be doing that in open court,’’ Shanahan said.