LAS VEGAS, Sept. 12, 2008
All-White Jury Sworn In For O.J. Trial
Defense Loses Battle To Include 2 African-American Women On Jury For Kidnap-Robbery Case
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O.J. Simpson appears in court during the first day of jury selection for his trial at the Clark County Regional Justice Center Monday, Sept. 8, 2008, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)
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Play CBS Video Video O.J. Simpson Back In Court O.J. Simpson is back in court on charges of robbery and kidnapping. If convicted, Simpson could spend the rest of his life behind bars. Hattie Kauffman reports.
District Attorney David Roger gave the judge what he called "race neutral" reasons for removing the two with his peremptory challenges, and defended the final makeup of the jury chosen late Thursday night, saying that two of six alternate jurors are black.
Both of the women who were removed had strong religious views, and the prosecutor said he thought one of them would be inclined to "forgive" Simpson while the other said she was hesitant to send anyone to prison.
Simpson's 1995 acquittal on murder charges came from a predominantly black jury.
Clark County District Judge Jackie Glass said she saw no evidence of a systematic exclusion of African-Americans. The current panel also is made up of nine women and three men.
Defense attorneys for Simpson and co-defendant Clarence "C.J." Stewart, who are both black, moved to dismiss the entire jury panel and start again but the judge rejected the motion.
Lawyers and the judge worked into the night to select the final group, using peremptory challenges, which are reserved for removing prospective jurors without stating a cause.
The final pool of prospects included a number of people who disagreed with Simpson's acquittal in the murders of his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ronald Goldman. But they said they could put that aside and weigh the Las Vegas case on its own merits.
Simpson, 61, is accused with Stewart, 54, of kidnapping, armed robbery and other crimes for allegedly stealing items from two sports memorabilia dealers in a hotel room confrontation last year. They have pleaded not guilty. Each could face life in prison with the possibility of parole if convicted of kidnapping, and mandatory prison time if convicted of armed robbery.
Opening statements were scheduled for Monday, and the trial is expected to last five weeks.
As they left the courthouse in darkness, Simpson attorney Yale Galanter said he was confident of his case.
"I don't think my client did anything wrong, I don't think he broke any laws. I'm glad that we're finally at the point where we can get these issues resolved," he said.
As Simpson drove away, he paused to sign a T-shirt for some fans. It was emblazoned with the words, "Pray for O.J."
Earlier, the judge issued an order refusing to release questionnaires filled out by the jurors who make up the panel. She said she had promised the panel she would keep their answers secret.
Colby Williams, a lawyer representing The Associated Press and Las Vegas Review-Journal who sought disclosure of the questionnaires, said he has filed an appeal with the Nevada Supreme Court on grounds that the public and the media have a First Amendment right of access to information about jurors in a criminal case.
© MMVIII The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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- Ol'' boy could sure play some football!!
- Reply to this comment
- He always seems to be "on". Trying to figure out a suitable facial expression for the camera. Why does he smile so much? Is he nervous? What''s he got to be nervous about?
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- The best punishment for this murderer is no press coverage at all.
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- He''s toast...
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- Posted by Bosqcatl at 10:15 PM : Sep 12, 2008
Encore, Encore - Reply to this comment
- Did anyone find a glove at the scene??? They need the glove.....cause if it doesn''t fit....well you know the rest....
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- Is an all white jury a problem? He''s a wanna be anyway.
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- Poor O.J. Everything would still be all lovey dovey in his life if he would have kept his word to the American people saying that he would not give up the search for their killers until they are caught! ... Starting search on the top 10 U.S. golf courses. Thoroughly checking all 18 holes.
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- How come so many intelligent bloggers that ritually gather at this site give so much attention to an obviously mutated form of Human Being with a devastatingly low intelligence? I Know it doesn''t work very often but, This is one time you can ignore the problem and it will go away! Let''s just pray his DNA doesn''t spread!
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- I really hope Colby Williams will get his way to have the disclosure of the questionnaires public and the media have a First Amendment right of access to information about jurors in a criminal case. Those are now our jurrors. People our diplomatic system has chosen for us with only justice in mind. If you are an American It is your right to look at all the questionnaire''s that you feel like. Some people might over-look something like this as insignifficant and really no big deal. But we can not be confused about this! It is a big deal! Do not even let them think they can get started picking and choosing every single piece of governmental information that will or will not be allowed to be viewed by the American Public! Go God Speed Colby!!
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- O.J. Simpson`s secret fetish is that he loves the spotlight and public attention, the secret aspect is that it doesn`t seem to matter if that `public attention` is positive or negative as long as it`s some form of attention. The public has had its fill of O.J. and his drama and this time around O.J. may get tucked away for a long time to give the public a break! O.J. really does deserve what he gets for not keeping a low profile and disappearing like Robert Blake and for being stupid, even a cat only has 9 lives!
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- u2playnice----You are a disgrace.Your comments are vile,racist and offensive to most decent people.I am comforted by the fact that you are an aberration, a freak of nature.I thought that in this day and age people with your views could only be found in old klan movies.You are a sick,twisted figure who is to be pitied.
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- Look at the ****** savage calling the white savage, savage.
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Posted by u2playnice at 12:05 AM : Sep 13, 2008
From one white man to another white person, you''re a POS; our country will never pull together until scum like you die out. - Reply to this comment
- Bosqcatl-----Well said,brother,wellsaid.
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Posted by mensarino at 11:58 PM : Sep 12, 2008
Hell, I''m an old white man and I applaud the post! - Reply to this comment
- Bosqcatl-----Well said,brother,wellsaid.
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- WHo gives a ***** what they say about the "fairness" of the trail if his a$$ is in jail?? WHO CARES??? He already has had a 10+ years of life out of jail after ANOTHER unfair trail that went IN his favor. Screw this sick killer.
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- HHAAAAAA!! ROFL, LOL, LMFAO!!!!!
Youz goin DOWN oj my man... - Reply to this comment
- Posted by xminusone1 at 09:35 PM : Sep 12, 2008
....The biggest race riot will occur someday when blacks get their affirmative action programs taken away from them and are told to stand on their own two feet for a change. It makes no difference if it is taken away from them three, three hundred or three thousand years from now. They will riot.
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Hey! What is wrong with you? Have you lost your mind? Listen to the *** coming out of your mouth. We African Americans work, pray, take care of our families, fight & die for this country, and typically treat our fellow citizens with great respect. You think you represent the average white citizen in America. But you do not! You are an aberration and dismal failure. You are worse than the most ignorant African American. From your provincial invective it is abundantly clear you are, indeed, a savage! For the record, very few blacks receive affirmative action benefits. However, if you are a manager or in any leadership position within corporate America it is assured the minorities you supervise will not be evaluated fairly and will definitively need Affirmative Action to get an advance. Your kind is the very worst in this society, because you create the Sharpton, Jacksons, and Farrakhans. They exist solely because of you. You are the very hate that created them. You are a true savage! Die soon, Die quick, so we can all focus on being good Americans! - Reply to this comment
- All white jury ? they must really have him ? So, now they will able to say,unfair trail, and he will walk, after wasting the $$$ to convict.
The trail is a waste of time if it considered ,the least bit,racial. - Reply to this comment
- I''m wondering what the parents of Ron Goldman think about this media play. O.J. killed more than one person. Now he''s back in the news for more thuggery.
This man will never stop. - Reply to this comment
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