Day 2 - jury selection

Day two is underway. We started the morning with the random selection of 12 jurors. The first pool included seven women and five men. One of the males is black. The rest of the jurors are white. Jerry Anderson appeared about the same. He looked at the jurors at the mention of his name. Otherwise he listens intently waiting in the balance.
Assistant DA Eric Bellas read the jurors a list of potential witnesses. He described it a few times like he was reading a telephone book. Close. He read approximately 245 names, more if you count duplicates. A few recognized the names. Some were common names and the jurors were thinking of other people. Most folks on the witness list were law enforcement officers, Sawmills residents, family of the Jerry and Emily and other names that I will learn in the coming weeks.
Bellas has been the sole speaker this morning, except for when certain potential jurors are called upon. He spoke of the law and common phases such as reasonable doubt, direct and circumstantial evidence and first-degree murder. He’s mentioned little specifics of the case.
The 12 men and women listen intently. Some avoid eye contact. Some questions that Bellas ask, the jurors raise their hands, such as do you understand this phrase or that phrase. Other questions, Bellas goes around each individual juror to ask specific questions.
It’s interesting, and it’s only going to get better. We’ll have to see if anyone officially gets sat for the trial by this afternoon. I’ll be back in a few hours.