Closed Hearing Results in Ruling for Media on Abortion Trial Access
After a closed hearing, a Wichita, Kan., judge has ruled the media will be allowed to observe part of the jury selection process in the trial of a man accused of killing an abortion doctor.
Judge Warren Wilbert had earlier banned the media from jury selection in the trial of Scott Roeder, but changed his mind after the Kansas Supreme Court asked him to reconsider, according to the Associated Press, Kansas CW and the Wichita Eagle.
Wilbert closed the hearing to determine whether jury selection will be open, according to the Wichita Eagle. News of his ruling was delivered by a lawyer who attended.
Four media representatives will be allowed to observe jury selection after the pool is winnowed down to 42 potential jurors, AP says. Other journalists may listen to an audio feed outside the courtroom, Kansas CW says. But if any sensitive issues arise, the judge said, the potential jurors will be questioned in private.
Roeder is accused of killing Wichita abortion doctor George Tiller at his church last May.
Roeder claims he killed Tiller to save “preborn children.” Wilbert said Friday it is possible he will allow jurors to consider a lesser charge of voluntary manslaughter. He held an additional hearing Tuesday after prosecutors protested. During that session, Wilbert said he won’t rule on the manslaughter instruction until he hears the evidence, ABC News reports.
