The Grand Jury & Trial

[MsMarple]

Jury selection in the Ross Harris murder trial took a decidedly different turn this morning: all four prospective jurors who were interviewed said they had formed no opinions about the case and could be fair and impartial.

A deputy clerk, a part-time student, a maintenance man and a rehabilitation aide all told Superior Court Judge Mary Staley they only had cursory knowledge of the case and had formed no opinions about it.
...
So far, a dozen potential jurors from a pool of about 250 have answered questions posed by the judge and by the prosecution and defense.

http://www.ajc.com/news/news/local/jury-selection-in-hot-car-trial-take-different-tur/nq5YY/

It's looking better today but still, 12/250 - there's a long way to go.

 

[eileenhawkeye]

Jury selection in the Ross Harris murder trial took a decidedly different turn this morning: all four prospective jurors who were interviewed said they had formed no opinions about the case and could be fair and impartial.

A deputy clerk, a part-time student, a maintenance man and a rehabilitation aide all told Superior Court Judge Mary Staley they only had cursory knowledge of the case and had formed no opinions about it.
...
So far, a dozen potential jurors from a pool of about 250 have answered questions posed by the judge and by the prosecution and defense.

http://www.ajc.com/news/news/local/jury-selection-in-hot-car-trial-take-different-tur/nq5YY/

It's looking better today but still, 12/250 - there's a long way to go.

Do they have to interview all of them before they can choose a jury?

 

[MsMarple]

Do they have to interview all of them before they can choose a jury?

The plan at this point is to get through at least a dozen of the individual juror interviews and then let the attorneys start striking some of the potential jurors and see where they stand when it comes to trying to select a 12-person panel plus several alternate jurors in this case.

http://www.wsbtv.com/news/ross-harr...3-of-ross-harris-hot-car-death-case/214683802

So it looks like they're trying to get a small pool together in order to start selection and not work through all 250. Still a huge task...

Vince sims ‏@SimsCBS46 7m7 minutes ago Georgia, USA
Covering Justin Ross Harris trial again today. One potential juror said flat out "I just felt like he was guilty." @cbs46 #hotcardeath
https://twitter.com/SimsCBS46

Bill Rankin ‏@ajccourts 15m15 minutes ago
Juror #11 in #RossHarris case. On Harris: "He's one screwed-up person."
https://twitter.com/ajccourts

 

[eileenhawkeye]

There's been 12 jurors interviewed so far. What is the rate between those who say they have formed an opinion, and those who say they can be impartial? This a high-profile case that is being tried in the same county that it took place in. If the rate of formed opinion/impartial jurors is 60/40 or even 75/25, it won't be impossible to find a jury, it will just take some time.

 

[JerseyGirl]

Are the other potential jurors hearing this "He's guilty. He's screwed-up". I don't see what the courtroom looks like. Is it traditional set up and 12 potential jurors sitting there and when one says "he's guilty" the judge is taking them off the jury and putting up another potential one? In the meantime, the jurors that "passed the test" sit there waiting until all 12 (and alternates) are picked and hear every comment from potential jurors?

Or are they being interviewed individually, behind closed doors with just the judge and the parties. away from potential jurors or jurors already selected?

 

[angelainwi]

Ryan Kerns ‏@RyanKernsEsq 28s29 seconds ago
15 Jurors have been questioned in the #RossHarris murder trial. Trying to find 12 impartial jurors + several alternates. @WildAboutTrial

 

[MsMarple]

Bill Rankin ‏@ajccourts 3m3 minutes ago
We have first qualified juror so far in #RossHarris case. Juror #2.

https://twitter.com/ajccourts

Yay?

 

[MsMarple]

Bill Rankin ‏@ajccourts 3m3 minutes ago
State moves to strike Juror #9 in #RossHarris trial, says he didn't disclose prior misdemeanor convictions or son's murder charge.

 

[Hope4More]

There is one detail that sticks out the most in my mind on this case- the fact that he went to breakfast, took the child out of the car and into the restaurant, ate breakfast with him, put him back in the car seat, and then drove just a short distance to his office.

Here is a good article that features Dr. Diamond's research on this topic, as well as several cases where people forgot children in cars. Its a good read for anyone interested in this case: https://www.washingtonpost.com/life...e0fe3a-f580-11e3-a3a5-42be35962a52_story.html

Thanks for the link. A really interesting and touching article.

I'm just beginning to catch up on these threads, but in partial response to the article:

15-25 deaths of babies/children in hot cars every year makes the occurrence of this tragedy extremely rare. How many millions of parents put their children in cars, at least once or twice, every single day of the year?

The rarity of these deaths suggests that not many of us, in fact, are capable of completely misplacing our babies or of forgetting where they are. And I say that as an extremely forgetful kind of person.

On the other hand...it does happen,obviously. Before diving back in, and from memory, IMO his internet searches are the most damning evidence I'm aware of.

His sexting with minors is repulsive in the extreme, but not evidence he premeditated his son's death. I'm frankly surprised the judge didn't sever those related cases. Seems mightily and unnecessarily prejudicial not to. Jmo.

 

[MsMarple]

Bill Rankin ‏@ajccourts 12m12 minutes ago
Eight jurors now qualified to serve in #RossHarris trial. Court recesses for the day. At least 32 jurors needed.

Some of today's proceedings:

Bill Rankin ‏@ajccourts 13m13 minutes ago
Judge keeps in Juror #9, denying state motion to strike. He had prior convictions with son facing murder charge.

Bill Rankin ‏@ajccourts 16m16 minutes ago
Judge grants defense motion to strike Juror #6 in #RossHarris case, calling it "close." The juror said he thought Harris was guilty.

Bill Rankin ‏@ajccourts 19m19 minutes ago
Judge denies defense motion to strike Juror #5 for cause, a man with five grandchildren. Seven jurors qualified so far.

Bill Rankin ‏@ajccourts 22m22 minutes ago
Judge denies defense motion to strike Juror #3 in #RossHarris case. Six prospective jurors qualified so far.

Bill Rankin ‏@ajccourts 24m24 minutes ago
Judge denies defense motion to strike Juror #1 in #RossHarris case. He'd said he couldn't believe anyone would leave kid in car by mistake.

 

[DeDee]

If I am understanding the tweets correctly, we have 12 of 32 necessary jurors already selected. I am a bit surprised at some of the denials the judge is making. I read the potential juror's questionnaire but can't recall if they had to divulge arrest records. One potential juror, #9, hid the fact that he committed a misdemeanor. The questionnaire is a sworn statement of the truth. Wonder if he'll be in trouble? Apparently not, since the judge refused the state's request to strike #9.

I was summoned for a big case that was moved into my county as a change of venue. The court subpoenaed 300 registered voters. We all sat in one large room. The case involved the drowning of a child due to an adult friend of the family removing her life jacket when their boat became stranded in a large lake. The judge excused school teachers, school administrators, and anyone who worked with small children. The jury and alternates were selected about halfway through those summoned.

I hope the prosecution arranges for a car, same made & model, equipped with a car seat, same make & model, with Cooper-sized doll strapped in.

Each juror required to back said car into parking space...to see how close their elbow is to Cooper's head.

The state already reenacted the incident by using a similar vehicle, a small doll, driving the route, the parking lot, etc. before the prelim. For the trial, the jurors will have the Harris' vehicle, Cooper's carseat and a doll exactly the height of Cooper.

This is an interesting tidbit. Cooper had outgrown his carseat yet the Harris' had not replaced it. That is why Cooper's head was sticking above the back panel by several inches. My daughter pays appx $400-500ea for her daughters' carseats. Why did the Harris' not replace Cooper's carseat unless they knew he would not be needing one in the future? Save that $400 smackeroos.

Justice for Sweet Baby Cooper

 

[Hope4More]

If I am understanding the tweets correctly, we have 12 of 32 necessary jurors already selected. I am a bit surprised at some of the denials the judge is making. I read the potential juror's questionnaire but can't recall if they had to divulge arrest records. One potential juror, #9, hid the fact that he committed a misdemeanor. The questionnaire is a sworn statement of the truth. Wonder if he'll be in trouble? Apparently not, since the judge refused the state's request to strike #9.

I was summoned for a big case that was moved into my county as a change of venue. The court subpoenaed 300 registered voters. We all sat in one large room. The case involved the drowning of a child due to an adult friend of the family removing her life jacket when their boat became stranded in a large lake. The judge excused school teachers, school administrators, and anyone who worked with small children. The jury and alternates were selected about halfway through those summoned.



The state already reenacted the incident by using a similar vehicle, a small doll, driving the route, the parking lot, etc. before the prelim. For the trial, the jurors will have the Harris' vehicle, Cooper's carseat and a doll exactly the height of Cooper.

This is an interesting tidbit. Cooper had outgrown his carseat yet the Harris' had not replaced it. That is why Cooper's head was sticking above the back panel by several inches. My daughter pays appx $400-500ea for her daughters' carseats. Why did the Harris' not replace Cooper's carseat unless they knew he would not be needing one in the future? Save that $400 smackeroos.

Justice for Sweet Baby Cooper

I thought they had bought a new car seat, but hadn't installed it yet?

 

[MzOpinion8d]

I thought they had bought a new car seat, but hadn't installed it yet?

They had a new one in LH's car.

 

[MzOpinion8d]

If I am understanding the tweets correctly, we have 12 of 32 necessary jurors already selected. I am a bit surprised at some of the denials the judge is making. I read the potential juror's questionnaire but can't recall if they had to divulge arrest records. One potential juror, #9, hid the fact that he committed a misdemeanor. The questionnaire is a sworn statement of the truth. Wonder if he'll be in trouble? Apparently not, since the judge refused the state's request to strike #9.

I was summoned for a big case that was moved into my county as a change of venue. The court subpoenaed 300 registered voters. We all sat in one large room. The case involved the drowning of a child due to an adult friend of the family removing her life jacket when their boat became stranded in a large lake. The judge excused school teachers, school administrators, and anyone who worked with small children. The jury and alternates were selected about halfway through those summoned.



The state already reenacted the incident by using a similar vehicle, a small doll, driving the route, the parking lot, etc. before the prelim. For the trial, the jurors will have the Harris' vehicle, Cooper's carseat and a doll exactly the height of Cooper.

This is an interesting tidbit. Cooper had outgrown his carseat yet the Harris' had not replaced it. That is why Cooper's head was sticking above the back panel by several inches. My daughter pays appx $400-500ea for her daughters' carseats. Why did the Harris' not replace Cooper's carseat unless they knew he would not be needing one in the future? Save that $400 smackeroos.

Justice for Sweet Baby Cooper

I think they're qualifying jurors and then the actual jurors will be selected from the pool of qualified jurors.

 

[Hope4More]

They had a new one in LH's car.

Thanks. And, just found the carseat thread and am skimming through it.....

 

[eileenhawkeye]

Some jurors have said they cannot be impartial. But the media coverage since the bond hearing has been very much pro-prosecution, Ross killed his son on purpose. During the trial, the jurors will hear rebuttals from the defense side. For example, maybe the searches aren't as convincing as they've been made out to be. I'm not saying the defense has a case, just that people might think nothing could convince them that the prosecutions case isn't 100% solid but at this point, they haven't heard any arguments against it, and are really hearing what the media decides to report.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[DeDee]

Thanks, Friends! I do adore being on a case with brilliant posters and especially kind ones.

I've forgotten many of the little details of the case but posted furiously when Cooper was first discovered. Rather than review Cooper's forum, perhaps I'll wait and watch every moment that I possibly can of the trial on livestream while I attempt to cast aside my preconceived notion of guilty.

 

[borndem]

Thanks, Friends! I do adore being on a case with brilliant posters and especially kind ones.

I've forgotten many of the little details of the case but posted furiously when Cooper was first discovered. Rather than review Cooper's forum, perhaps I'll wait and watch every moment that I possibly can of the trial on livestream while I attempt to cast aside my preconceived notion of guilty.

I do think he is guilty, but there hasn't been a lot of details from the defense. I can be convinced otherwise, but the defense's arguments have got to be pretty convincing to pull me over to the NG side. His plan (of murder) seems to me to be fairly smart -- we hear so much about children & pets dying in very hot cars, so why should this death be any different than those? But it appears that he had a lot of baggage giving him motive, motive, motive. So let's hear it, defense attorneys, let's hear it.

 

[Inthedetails]

I do think he is guilty, but there hasn't been a lot of details from the defense. I can be convinced otherwise, but the defense's arguments have got to be pretty convincing to pull me over to the NG side. His plan (of murder) seems to me to be fairly smart -- we hear so much about children & pets dying in very hot cars, so why should this death be any different than those? But it appears that he had a lot of baggage giving him motive, motive, motive. So let's hear it, defense attorneys, let's hear it.

I think all the defense has is, "he forgot."

And that might be enough.

It's going to be an interesting case, for sure.

jmo

 

[Jinkasaurus]

Until I learned that he put Cooper back into the car after breakfast, and then drove just a few minutes to park at his work, I thought that there may be a possibility that due to all the sexting/cheating, he was distracted and forgot. That seemed plausible to me.

But taking him out of the car seat, eating with him in the restaurant, putting him back into the car seat, and then driving a few minutes to work- I'm not sure how he could have forgot in that short window of time,