Ladies And Gentlemen, We Have A Jury For The OJ Trial
I thought it would take longer than this, but it would seem that in just five short days, they've managed to put together a jury for the latest OJ Simpson trial...a jury that is, well, pretty white:
Lawyers for Simpson and his codefendant, who is also black, charged that African Americans were being systematically excluded after the prosecution removed the lone black panelist who had been in contention for the jury.The defense renewed those accusations after prosecutors used another challenge to dismiss an African American from the pool of alternates. The remaining six alternates include two black men. [...]
"There has been no evidence to me that the state has made a purposeful discriminatory effort to eliminate African American jurors," the judge said, noting that two black alternates remain.
Simpson stared at the judge as she spoke. He appeared intensely involved in the selection of the panel, poring over jury questionnaires and whispering to his attorneys as they finalized their decisions.
So just to recap, let's go over once again just why we are in yet another courtroom trying to figure out if OJ is guilty or not guilty:
Simpson, 61, faces a dozen charges stemming from the alleged robbery of two sports memorabilia dealers in a casino hotel room a year ago. Prosecutors contend he organized a raiding party of six men, some armed, to rob the dealers. Simpson says he was trying to recover items stolen from him and did not see any weapons.A man who accompanied him, Clarence Stewart, also faces charges.
On BTR Today yesterday, we discussed whether or not OJ would get a fair trial or whether the stigma of his previous trial for the murder of his ex-wife Nicole Simpson and her friend Ron Goldman would remain, perhaps prompting jurors to "get it right this time." I don't know. I think you've always got the chance of some renegade trying to sneak onto the jury, a person who believes OJ got away with it the last time and who is determined to try and put him behind bars for something, anything, this go around. Continued on the next page
