Prospective Jurors in O.J. Simpson Trial Lectured by Judge

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Prospective Jurors in O.J. Simpson Trial Lectured by Judge

Posted Sep 9, 2008, 09:51 am CST
By Martha Neil

Prospective jurors in the upcoming Las Vegas armed robbery and kidnapping trial of football great O.J. Simpson have quite a bit they're not supposed to be thinking about.

That includes not only his celebrity status but his acquittal at trial nearly 13 years ago on charges that he murdered his former wife and a male companion, reports the Los Angeles Times. Plus, anyone who is seeking to cash in on Simpson's name need not apply for a seat on the panel, Clark County District Court Judge Jackie Glass said yesterday, as jury selection began.

"If you are here and think you are going to punish Mr. Simpson for what happened in 1995, this is not the case for you," she told prospects for the panel, adding a prohibition against those who want to "to become famous and write a book and be on TV."

Simpson, 61, is accused of participating with others in a robbery of sports memorabilia from a Las Vegas casino hotel, but has denied wrongdoing. His trial is expected to be the highest profile courtroom case in Las Vegas history.

If convicted on the kidnapping charge, he could be imprisoned for life.

Additional coverage:

Associated Press: "Some in jury pool can't put aside Simpson's past"

Updated at 7:15 p.m., central time, to include link to Associated Press article.

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