Court is in brief recess while jurors are sorted out -- one group will remain and be questioned today, while the second group will be released, to return later for questioning. Twenty-two jurors have been screened so far, 14 of whom have been excused for hardship (most for financial reasons).
That's 63% excused -- or only 37% retained. If that trend continues, they'll be lucky to end up with 40 potential jurors. This is BEFORE voir dire - questioning about media exposure, biases, death penalty opinion, etc. Remember, they are looking for 20 jurors (12 jurors + 8 alternates). Let's hope this trend reverses itself and the rest of the day proves more fruitful.
Judge is addressing the jurors he's releasing for the day. Tells them to return at 8:30 tomorrow morning. Admonishes not to read/watch news accounts, use internet, discuss case, etc.
Anthony seems to have regained her composure. She was teary-eyed and looked very nervous this morning.
Judge says Juror #1141 has been excused by chief judge.
Juror #1268 (female) is addressing the court. She has surgery scheduled for Wednesday (and prep for it tomorrow). Doesn't know how long she'll be unavailable. Judge says after surgery, give them a call to let them know whether she can return. No objections.
Juror #1009 (female) Says she has 13 yr old daughter and disabled husband to care for. The husband would not be able to care for daughter on his own. No questions from either side, no objections. She's excused.
Juror #1019 (male) Works in IT. Says he would have no hardship in serving. He is retained, to be recalled later.
Juror #1344 (male) Says he would have hardship. Recently sold business and has legal contract to fulfill, would cost him considerable amount of money. Penalties would be half a million bucks. He's excused.
Juror #1167 (male) Would pose some hardship, but not undue hardship. He's retired. Is being worked up for anemia, but not a major disruption. His wife does Red Cross disaster work and will be gone for a month, but he can arrange someone to check on house, mow yard, etc. He is retained.
Juror #1055 (female) Says it would not be hardship. Mason questions the juror. Asks what her calendar is for next couple of months. She's in college but is on summer break til August. She is retained.
Juror #1316 (male) Says it would pose hardship to serve. Head of household, probably wouldn't be able to make it financially. Employer will not pay during his jury service. He's excused for financial hardship.
Juror #1350 (male) Says it would pose financial hardship. Would have lien placed against newly purchased condo if away for 6-8 weeks. Could not afford to pay mortgage, HOA fees. Also says he has formed opinion based on media he's seen. Judge asks his opinion. Juror says he feels defendant is guilty. Definitely EXCUSED...LOL
Juror #1152(?) (male) Says it would pose hardship. Has two jobs. First job will pay, second won't. Wife recently took 40% pay cut. Excused for financial hardship.
Juror #1319 (female) Says it would be hardship. Says she doesn't believe in judging people, goes on about why God put her here. Judge asks if, other than religion, she has an impediment to serving. She says she wouldn't be comfortable doing it. No financial/medical/family issues that would keep you from serving? She says no.
About her religious beliefs, judge says he understands she has a problem judging others on guilt or innocence and that would cause her in some way not to be able to do that. Cheney objects to her being excused, saying a jury instruction would cure it. Obviously, he wants someone who doesn't want to judge his client on the panel. She's not excused.
Juror #1135 (male) No hardship issues, nothing on his calendar next couple of months. He is retained.
Juror #1254 (male) Says employer would not pay him and he'd probably end up homeless. Excused for financial hardship.
Juror #1173 (male) Works at Tampa General Hospital as contractor. Cleans out the confidential paper bins in hospital and shreds at end of day (that's an interesting job, never heard of that position before!). Doesn't know if job would be there when he returned.
Juror says he is enrolled in school part time. Anticipates enrolling in summer session shortly. Judge asks if could delay a semester. Judge wants him to check with employer about paying him during service. He is not excused. Is to check w/employer before being recalled.
Juror #1021 (male) He is 83 yrs old. Judge says he gets an automatic exemption. No objections from either side. He is excused.
Juror #1367 (female) Claims hardship. Says she can't be away from home, has to pay babysitter for dog that is sick, has to give him shots. Also has job that she doesn't think will allow her to be away for such a long time. Doesn't think employer will pay her.
State says keep her on list til she checks on employer situation. Baez says had brief interaction during lunch. Spoke to him in Spanish and asked him a question. He told her he couldn't talk to her. Wants her to be recalled. State wants to inquire about interaction. Baez says she only asked if he spoke Spanish and he replied yes, but that he couldn't speak with her. She will be retained and recalled.
Juror #1162 (male) Single father. No one to care for child if away. Excused.
Juror #1395 (male) Hardship...just started new job with AAA after 2 yrs of unemployment. Still on probation at work, doesn't know if they'd pay him. His wife isn't used to handling the house alone. Difficult for her to walk. They both have medical issues. She is deaf in one ear. No others to help. Excused for hardship.
Juror #1389 (female) Has 5 yr old daughter. Has husband, but she is primary caregiver of child, plus she is in nursing school. Husband is also in school and they are planning a move in June. Employer would pay during service, but she'd have to repeat some classes she's already taken. Might cause her not to graduate in Nov, but 5 mos later. State doesn't believe her issues rise to level of hardship. Defense agrees. She is retained.
Juror #1369 (male) Says he found out at lunch that he'd only get paid for 3 weeks. Would cause financial hardship. Has child in college and one at home. Doesn't want to get into hole with the finances. Judge asks how big of a hole. Juror says about $5k, and would probably take a year or so to recover from that. Excused for financial hardship.
Juror #1224 (female) Claims financial/employment hardship. She is self-employed and has two months' worth of appointments scheduled. She's a dog groomer. Her husband is unemployed and she is sole support for them. Would not be able to pay mortgage and bills if she lost her income. Excused for financial hardship.
Juror #1278 (male) Says he has pets (birds) at home with no one to care for them. Could maybe get a daughter to go to his place and care for them. She lives 20 mins away. Judge instructs him to check with his daughter and let them know when he comes back. He is retained.
Juror #1407 (male) He is in school, unemployed, lives with mom. No hardship if selected to serve. Judge outlines what sequestration will be like. He is retained.
Juror #1172 (female) She has a prepaid, nonrefundable vacation she'd lose money on next week. Says the doctor's office she works at would not pay during jury service. Lives with parents, has some savings, would probably be okay financially if she serves. State wants to keep her; defense says she rises to level hardship. Judge excuses her over state's objection.
Juror #1177 (female) Single mother of 2 yr old. Sole provider and caretaker. Said she had a great family, but not the same as being there for her little one. She is excused without objection.
Ten minute recess. If I've counted correctly, there were 25 jurors in this last batch. Of those, 11 were retained (6 male, 5 female). That brings the totals to: 47 screened, 19 retained (40%, up from the 37% retained in first batch...good news!).
Judge forgot to turn audio on. He is now questioning a juror (didn't catch his number due to audio being off). Juror quit job in 2008 to care for his wife 24/7. No objections to witness being excused.
Juror #1252 (male) Is VP at brewery/restaurant. Plans to pay himself for a few days, but doesn't think he can maintain his business during 6-8 weeks. Would have to ask friends/family for money; all his funds tied up in business. His staff would have to run the business if he were gone. Doesn't feel comfortable leaving entire business in their hands. No objections, excused.
Juror #1071 (male) Works for child care agency. Only one in his dept, works with schools. Is working on grant proposals for his nonprofit. Former elementary principal. Said it would be a challenge for his agency to meet the obligations if he weren't there. Excused without objection.
Juror #1174 (male) Full time student. Also a veteran who gets housing if he's going to school. If he stops school, loses housing. Also gives his wife daily injections for fertility treatments. He is excused for cause.
Juror #1073 (female) Claims hardship due to caring for child, employment issues (in charge of Home Shopping Network website). Employer will pay, but main concern is child care. Excused for hardship.
Juror #1099 (male) Lives paycheck to paycheck, would be difficult financially. Employer will not compensate during service. Excused for hardship.
Juror #1018 (male) Doesn't work, takes care of disabled grandmother, also attends school. No one else to take his place for eight weeks. Excused for hardship.
Juror #1394 (female) Some personal and professional hardship, but not impossible. Directs student program at medical center. Their year ends in July and they're preparing them for boards. Says in response to judge that she supposes someone could step in for her. Cares for 90 yr old father in law, but husband can care for them. She is retained.
Juror #1331 (male) Just started new job. If he doesn't work, he doesn't get paid and has to pay child support for 2 children. Excused for hardship. (He has a beautiful, deep Isaac Hayes/FM radio guy kinda voice...nice!)
Juror #1403 (female) Primary breadwinner, husband unemployed. Would not be paid during service, so it would put them in the hole. Could not provide for kids. Could be evicted.
Juror #1372 (female) House- and pet-sitter. No other source of income, says it's vital to the household. Judge asks if it's an inconvenience or a true hardship. She says it's a necessary income, would not be able to meet bills. What would happen to your clientele? I'd lose them, she says. Excused for hardship.
Juror #1427 (male) Has owned his locksmith business 30 yrs. No employees, just him. Would not be able to pay bills if he didn't work for two months. Excused for hardship.
Juror #1086 (female) Single mom of 10 yr old. No one to provide care for that amount of time. Would not be paid by employer, either. Excused for hardship.
Juror #1024 (female) Self-employed, no jury duty policy, would not get paid for it. She and husband own software consulting business. Is out of state most of the year. Husband cannot cover for her if she were absent. Customers would be left unsupported and projects would have to come to stop, would hire others to complete project. Excused for hardship.
Juror #1266 (female) She directs clinical trials with patients, assesses side effects, etc. She's excused for hardship.
Juror #1230 (male) Company would pay for only 5 days jury service. Would not be able to afford to pay rent, auto, insurance. Excused for hardship.
Juror #1107 (male) Would not be financial hardship, but personal one. Mother has lung cancer, doesn't want to spend two months away from her. Excused for cause.
Juror #1212 (female) She is responsible for her elderly parents. Both are in nursing homes. She has to oversee their care and appts. Is the only family member in area, no one else to help with that. Excused.
Juror #1123 (male) He's made reservations and put down deposit for trip for son's graduation in mid-June. He does not know if any deposits are refundable. He is retained, to be recalled later.
Done with juror screening for the day...more tomorrow.
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