Judge aims to complete Casey Anthony jury selection today
(CBS/WTSP/AP) CLEARWATER, Fla. - Today is the eighth day of jury selection in the Casey Anthony murder trial, and Judge Belvin Perry hopes it is the last.
Pictures: Casey and Caylee Anthony, Personal Photos
But CBS News has learned that the process was lagging behind that goal Tuesday morning, with a total of eleven prospective jurors after initial preemptory strikes from both sides, and a struggle to get some prospective jurors to court for questioning.
Judge Perry is aiming to finish jury selection on Tuesday to be able to give jurors Wednesday off and start Anthony's trial in Orlando on Thursday, reports CBS affiliate WTSP.
His original goal was to find 12 jurors and eight alternates, but because jury selection has taken so long, he has decided not to continue with his original goal of eight alternates.
"We will have what we will have," he told the courtroom, reports the station.
The questioning now focuses on how much media jurors have been exposed to and whether they could recommend the death penalty if Anthony is found guilty, the station reports.
Jury selection is taking place outside of Orlando in the Tampa area because of intense media coverage near where the alleged murder of 2-year old Caylee Anthony occurred.
Casey Anthony, 25, could face the death penalty if convicted of first-degree murder in her daughter's 2008 death. She is also charged with aggravated child abuse, aggravated manslaughter of a child and providing false information to law enforcement. She has pleaded not guilty and maintains a babysitter kidnapped Caylee.
The Casey Anthony case was recently reported on by "48 Hours Mystery."