My first impressions of this courtroom:
Judge is smart, pleasant, and not baffled by bull****.
Prosecutor is charming, friendly, and loves the cameras.
Defense is very off putting, and as the judge has already said "parses words."
I don't know how much is acceptable to post about jurors so I am posting the bare basics (my own notes are much longer):
Juror 32 - works in landscaping, cuts grass. Worked three years so far. Was noted in court he is a young man.
Juror 33 - retired woman from the city of Brunswick. Retired in 2008.
Juror 34 - worked as a sales associate, housekeeper, and collections agent. Woman with kids in her teens. Followed the Casey Anthony trial because she wanted to learn what happened to Caylee.
Juror 35 - is a minister and does audio service and small engine repairs. Knows an attorney in Cobb county. Told a funny story about being arrested for shooting squirrels with a 22 caliber firearm. Charged with shooting a firearm within city limits.
Juror 36 - has worked as a kindergarten teacher for about seven years. Knows people who work in the court system in Glynn county. Only watches stuff like 48 hours or Lifetime documentaries. Followed Natalie Holloway case. Followed Casey Anthony case. Good experience with law enforcement. Does not think that car seats equipped with alarms would be helpful to her, "maybe others" but not her.
Solitary questioning begins:
Juror 25 - has affirmed that she can set aside what she has heard to form an impartial opinion. Also affirmed she can vote for guilt or innocence. Doesn't want to see/hear graphic language or sexual content, but would be willing to in order to serve jury. Affirms again to the defense that she is able to hear both sides and view evidence to draw a conclusion. Juror 25 is asked to return October 3.
Juror 27 - has heard a lot about the case, concedes that the media can get things wrong. Says she would try to put aside what she learned but the case has haunted her since she has a grandson named Cooper. Had discussed it extensively with family and formed an opinion. Has a hard time believing anyone can forget a child in the car. She has kids and would never forget they were with her. She never left them for a minute because she is afraid of sexual predators. Son started reading the articles to her. Cannot guarantee she can put aside everything she has heard from the media. Says the story was on her local news for days and days, and also on the Today show. Son and daughter in law expressed their opinion that he is guilty. Is not sure she can look at the pictures of Cooper. She is of the opinion that he is guilty. Relates story of how her grandson was injured and says "our Cooper is luckier than the other Cooper." She is excused, the judge says to come back October 3 at 9:00 am.
---At this point, the Prosecution stopped using juror numbers, so I am using "?" instead of guessing, with exception to juror 29 who was described by defense motion to strike ---
Juror ? - learned about case on the Internet but has affirmed his ability to serve on the jury. Doesn't remember much about the case and didn't remember if Harris even white or black. Says the media made it look like Harris had intentionally left his child in the car. He says he had formed an opinion "based on nothing" but had been exposed to previous information about hot car deaths. Has had this opinion for two years or more. Says he feels he can be a little bit more fair if the trial started today. Says he will be willing to wait until he has heard all the evidence from both sides before deciding guilt or innocence. Says he is willing to presume he is innocent when court starts. Judge asks him to return October 3 at 9:00 am.
Juror ? - does not think it is fair to be on the jury. Excused until October 3 at 9:00am.
Juror 29 - has seen a lot of child abuse cases, is convinced he is guilty but would be willing to try to set that aside to determine guilt or innocence. Saw and heard a lot about the case on the Internet, television (even the weather channel), and the radio. Watches local news and national news 6-7pm. Finds it "amazing" you can leave your flesh and blood in the back of a hot car. He still believes Harris is guilty. Says is able to be a fair and impartial juror to both sides. Judge asks him to come back October 3 at 9:00am.
Juror ? - says it is very hard for her to accept this kind of situation. She says she cannot believe that with all the common knowledge and warnings that parents could forget their child in the car. She lightly skimmed through articles and her knowledge is that the child was left in the car and the child passed away. Doesn't see how it can be accidental. After another question she affirms she does not see it as an accident. She says her opinion will not be changed by anything in the courtroom. Asked to come back October 3 at 9:00am.
Juror ? - says he would not be able to render a fair verdict. Has heard about the case from family, friends, and the Internet. Asked to come back October 3 at 9:00am.
Juror ? - says his mind will be hard to change because he has a neice. Has already formed an opinion. Says he would not be able to give Harris a fair trial. Judge says she's going to excuse him but to come back on October 3 9:00am.
Juror ? - says she would be able to put aside her opinion and follow the judge's instructions to give Harris a fair trial. Excused until October 3, 9:00am.
Juror ? - says the lord sent him on a mission to see the way people think? Says he can "switch it off" and has no opinion about the trial. Says the lord showed him the difference between moral judgement and court judgement. Says he has a "gift" but has been training it the last eight years according to his beliefs about the lord. Talking about seeing patterns in people. Excused until October 3 9:00am.
(someone whispers that a juror broke down and cried on the way out in the hallway. She is excused until October 3, is told to take a minute to compose herself in the jury room.)
Juror 35/45? (inaudible) - no motions to strike
Juror 26 -
Juror 27 - no motions to strike
Juror 28 - strike
Juror 29 - brief argument
Juror 30 - strike
Juror 31 - strike
Juror 32 - strike
Juror 33 -
Juror 34 - no motions to strike
Juror 35 - no motion to strike
Juror 36 - strike
Juror 29 - judge denied motion to strike
Judge states she has 23 jurors to put into the pool.
Motion to compel - motion to reconsider: Defense is arguing certain statements made by JRH to an expert witness are "not discoverable" under the Constitutional right to not incriminate oneself. Defense does not have a report or summary of the expert's opinion. Making an argument that Georgia statues allegedly do not require the expert to testify about his notes or statements made by JRH. Admits it is his fault this was not made clear in August.
Prosecution states they were clear about what they requested and under what statues they were requested. Says defense had months to prepare and address this and emails to the defense remained unanswered. Alleges that should the expert witness testify without being notified ahead of time, that the Prosecution would not be prepared and put into a position of possibly arguing inadmissible and prejudicial evidence. Alleges the defense ignored and defies the judge's ruling until Prosecution filed motion to compel. Judge denies defendant's motion to reconsider.
