Casey Anthony Trial - Jury Selection Begins

Judge Perry is introducing himself and the attorneys to potential jurors and asks if any of them know any of the attorneys.  No one speaks up, so none lost due to that issue.

Casey Anthony is tearful at the defense table, dabbing her eyes and nose with tissues. I guess the reality of the situation must be sinking in for her.

Judge Perry advises that jurors will be sequestered for approximately 6-8 weeks.  He is telling jurors that their movements and activities will be limited.  The judge details the charges and says the state is seeking the death penalty for the first degree murder charge.

The judge is reading the indictment:

Count I -- First Degree Murder of Caylee Anthony
Count II -- Aggravated Child Abuse
Count III -- Child Neglect
Count IV -- Providing False Information to LE (employment at Universal)
Count V -- Providing False Information to LE (leaving Caylee at Sawgrass Apartments)
Count VI -- Providing False Information to LE (informed employees at Universal that Caylee was missing)
Count VII -- Providing False Information to LE (received phone call from Caylee)

Judge Perry gives summary of case: July 15, 2008, Caylee was reported missing to OCSO. Her remains were located in wooded area off Suburban Drive on December 11, 2008.

Judge tells potential jurors that they will each be questioned for hardship; they'll be asked if past personal experience or knowledge of parties/case will influence their ability to be fair and impartial.

Because of the first degree murder charge, trial will be conducted in two phases: trial to determine guilt and, if necessary, penalty phase. Attitudes about death penalty are relevant to questioning of jurors. Misgivings about the DP will not necessarily disqualify someone, so long as they can set that aside and follow the law.

Judge Perry is going over some of the laws he will give to jury during trial:

"Reasonable Doubt" and "Burden of Proof" - Defendant must be presumed innocent of each allegation unless/until it's been overcome by evidence, to the exclusion of and beyond a reasonable doubt.  Defendant is not required to prove anything whatsoever. State has the burden to prove the crime and to prove that the defendant is the person who committed the crime.

It will be up to jurors to determine credibility of all witnesses. Expert opinion may be believed in part or whole, like any other witness.

Court will require jurors to follow these rules when they go home after jury selection:

• Don't discuss case with family/friends, other than logistics of being sequestered.
• Don't use any type of electronic devices or computers to communicate about case, including Tweeting, Facebook, blogging, email, websites, chatrooms.
• Don't send or accept messages to/from anyone about case or jury service.
• No research, no looking up names, maps or anything else to do with this case, including reading newspapers, watching TV, computer, cell phone, internet or any other means at all to get info on this case. Applies in court, home, anywhere else. Again, do not watch, read or listen to any type of news whatsoever until released from jury duty.
• Do not discuss this case among yourselves. Discuss anything you want except anything to do with this case. If anyone approaches you, don't discuss it with them.
• When you go home in the evening during jury selection process, don't share info with loved ones -- tell them only that you're being considered for a jury, logistics of being away and sequestered during trial.

Clerk calls the first 45 jurors to a separate room. Jurors will be referred to by juror number, not name. The remainder will go back to central jury room. Court will try to get through everyone today on the hardship issue.