Casey Anthony Trial - Jury Hardship Questioning

Jurors are being questioned as to whether serving the estimated 6-8 weeks of trial (sequestered) will be too much of a hardship.

Jose Baez moves to strike the panel for lack of Hispanics and African Americans in the potential pool. Judge goes over random juror selection process with Baez, says there is no requirement in summoning jurors to look for percentage of minorities. Judge asks if Baez wants him to handpick jurors based on race, sex. Baez says no, but panel doesn't represent Orange County. Judge denies the request to strike.

Judge: Lodging, three squares, laundry, etc. will be covered. Jury stipend of $30/day. rial will start Tuesday in Orlando and last for 6-8 weeks. Would that cause hardship?

Juror #1340 (male): No, not off the top of my head. Nothing I couldn't overcome.

Cheney Mason questioning juror:

• Any medical issues/conditions? No.
• Any special dietary issues? No.
• Any allergies/issues like that? No.
• Married? Yes. Children? Yes. Age? Seven yr old daughter.
• Difficulty with being apart from family? Daughter would miss him. What about wife? She might be happy to get rid of me.
• Any responsibility as caretaker for anyone else? No.
• Work full time? Yes, shift schedule, 3-4 days a week, 12 hrs.
• Are you a supervisor? Yes. You can make decision for time off? No, manager who schedules it. He won't be thrilled, but I've told him I'd keep him posted. If he has to cover, he has to cover.
• Your job will be safe? I think so.
• Vacation/recreational plans? Nothing planned.
• Employer continue to pay you? Believe so, that's my understanding. What if you find out they won't? Things will be tight. I have vacation and personal time saved up if employer won't pay.
• Religious obligations? No.
• No computer/internet - do you do that repeatedly? Yes, my job is on computer, but I'm fine without it.
• Cell phone? It'll be an adjustment, but I can make it.

Judge says juror will be able to access internet to pay bills, can visit with wife and daughter, all supervised by deputies. Juror is not excluded for hardship; released to go home/work, admonished not to discuss case.


Juror #1200 (female) - Caretaker for father 89 yr old father. Could move him into her apartment and ask neighbors to look in on him; would pose hardship. Cheney objects to hardship for her. Judge concerned if her father became ill it could affect trial. Juror excused for hardship.

Juror #1232 (male) - Says not a hardship in response to judge. Cheney Mason questions juror:

• No medical issues? No.
• Caretaker of anyone? No.
• Married? Yes. Children? Yes.
• Considered impact on family? Would impact my family, but my wife can handle things.
• Job? Works for St. Pete Times, works graveyard. Will continue to be paid during jury service.
• Vacation obligations? No, not at all
• Sequestration impact religious beliefs? No.
• Into computers, gadgets? Just to browse internet. No hardship to be away from it.
• If selected, TV viewing will be selective. Okay with that? Yes, not an issue.

Juror not excused for hardship. Sent home, will be contacted to return at later time. He's not a reporter with the SP Times, by the way, some type of managerial position.

Juror #____ (male) Tells judge serving would be hardship. Wife scared to be alone at night, difficult to be gone from job for week, let alone longer. Juror asked to step outside. No objections from either side. Juror is excused.

Juror #1129 (male) Tells judge it would be a hardship to serve due to his job. He's insurance compliance analyst. Judge asks if beside work, any other reasons he couldn't serve. Juror says no. Financial hardship? Once additional vacation/personal time used up, yes, but would be okay for six weeks. Anyone else in company who could carry on your duties? At least one or two others on staff who could. What about family? Single.

No questions from state or defense. Juror is not excused for hardship; will be contacted later to return for further questioning.

Jury #1398 (female) Does volunteer counseling 2 days a week, but clients doing well as a whole; others on staff who could do crisis counseling. Good health, allergic to fragrances, married, only personal thing planned is June 20th vacation, but is tentative. Doesn't like to drive, but judge tells her she'll be transported, outlines some of the conditions of sequestration. Tells judge it will not be a hardship for her. No questions from either side; not excused for hardship.

Juror #1152 (male) Says it would be hardship due to employment. Employer will not pay for jury service. Judge asks if he can call employer to see if they'll pay him. Juror says he is the one who writes the policy, so he knows it won't change. Says he would be in bankruptcy after 12 weeks if had to subsist on juror pay. No questions by either side. Cheney objects to hardship. Not excused. Judge wants him to talk to employer about pay during service.

Juror #1250 (male) Says has family trip to Texas on 20th of this month. Nonrefundable tickets. Would be hardship to reschedule. It's a 4-day trip. Single father of 10 yr old girl, has sole custody. Agrees with judge that it would be difficult to be away from daughter. No questions, objections by either side. Excused for hardship.

So far, it seems to me that jurors #1340, #1398, #1232 seem good candidates based on responses to judge.  Jurors #1129 and 1152, not so much. Hopefully, there will be enough like the first three that the court/attorneys will be able to excuse/strike ones like the latter two who clearly do not want to serve and may end up harboring some resentment about that if forced to do so. Last thing this trial needs is potential juror problems on top of all the other madness.