Simpson Judge Refuses to Dismiss Jury Pool Over Murder Trial Comment
A Las Vegas judge refused a defense motion to dismiss 27 potential jurors in the armed robbery trial of O.J. Simpson because one possible juror made an angry comment about the football star’s murder acquittal in the death of his ex-wife.
The potential juror “blurted out a comment that stunned the courtroom,” the Associated Press reports. ”I feel the case down in Los Angeles—if someone got away with that, you would keep yourself clean and you wouldn’t come back and commit another crime,” he said.
Judge Jackie Glass of Clark County dismissed the man and admonished potential jurors to disregard his comments, the story says. It isn’t the first lecture she gave potential jurors. Earlier this week Glass said they could not punish the football star for the old case and could not seek to cash in on his fame.
Simpson is accused of participating in an armed robbery to take items from two sports memorabilia dealers at a Las Vegas casino hotel, but has denied wrongdoing.
Glass said she expects to have 40 potential jurors by the end of Thursday, enough for the selection of 12 jurors and six alternates. Lawyers have not yet been given a chance to exercise their peremptory challenges.
”The end is near, folks!” Glass said.
