Jury Selection

Jury selection resumed Tuesday after being postponed due to Michael Jackson becoming ill with flu symptoms last week. While some cable news television commentators have speculated that Mr. Jackson’s absents from court was a ploy to build sympathy and delay the trial, Judge Melville stated in court, “Mr. Jackson really did have the flu. I talked to his doctor,” Melville also added that he wanted to “stop any speculation that this is something that is being done to us. Mr. Jackson and Mr. Mesereau need to know that is not what’s going through your minds.” Melville also disclosed that he has cancelled two personal events as a way of speeding up the proceedings. The prosecution and the defense questioned jurors Tuesday morning during voir dire. The decision of who should stay and who should go is a key element in choosing an acceptable jury for both sides. Defense attorneys and prosecutors also have 10 peremptory challenges to dismiss jurors without cause. More than half were used by both. Without giving a reason, prosecutors dismissed a man who stated he was a fan of Michael Jackson’s and a woman who said she felt sympathy for Mr. Jackson because of molestation allegations involving her relatives. The defense also, without noting any reason, dismissed a woman whose mother works for the district attorney’s office and a male juror who said he had three friends who worked for the Sheriffs Department. In addition to jury selection, the judge stated that new names have been submitted to the witness lists for the defense and the prosecution. Among the new names were actor Macaulay Culkin, actor Eddy Murphy and singer Smokey Robinson. Being on a witness list does not guarantee that a person will be called to testify. Source: MSNBC/LA Times/AP/MJJForum/eMJey