Maketa trial: 22 potential jurors already decided ex-sheriff was guilty

[TexasTowelie]

Twenty-two potential jurors said they had made up their minds: Ex-El Paso County Sheriff Terry Maketa is guilty.

All were thanked for their service and sent on their way.

Roughly one-third of the 90 people called for jury selection Tuesday were dismissed on the opening day of Maketa's long-awaited trial on corruption charges, including those who said in pre-trial surveys that they couldn't be neutral.

Opening statements will be heard in 4th Judicial District Court once the field is narrowed to a panel of 12 jurors plus two alternates, a process that could take all day Wednesday or longer. Prospective jurors' impressions of Maketa and media coverage of the case against him dominated the questioning.

Read more: http://gazette.com/maketa-trial-22-potential-jurors-had-already-decided-ex-sheriff-was-guilty/article/1606022

[TexasTowelie]

1. Update to story:

Ex-El Paso County sheriff’s trial beginning after two days of jury selection


Opening statements and testimony in the corruption trial of ex-El Paso County Sheriff Terry Maketa will begin Thursday following two days of jury selection.

Proceedings are scheduled to get under way at 8:30 a.m.

A panel of seven men and seven women, including two alternates, was seated late Wednesday afternoon, winnowed from a pool of 90 people.

After roughly an hour of opening remarks by both sides, prosecutors will begin calling witnesses for what’s expected to be two weeks of testimony. The witness list involves a who’s who of El Paso County sheriff’s brass, including Sheriff Bill Elder.

More at http://www.denverpost.com/2017/06/28/terry-maketa-el-paso-county-sheriff-trial-beginning/ .