Category: Non-Local News Releases Non-Local News Releases
Published: 09 July 2024 09 July 2024

Below is a report about jury selection from the pool reporter, Morgan Lee, of The Associated Press.

9:20 a.m.

70 prospective jurors are assembled in jury services room, wait in silence. Headsets for language interpretation are distributed to two or three potential jurors.

Proceedings are delayed.

When a bathroom break is announced, one potential juror said aloud, "Who are we waiting for?" to muted laughter.

9:50 a.m.

Announcement that jury selection will be moved to a courtroom on second floor of courthouse.

10:50 a.m.

Jurors are seated in courtroom in wood benches, facing prosecution team and Alec Baldwin with team of four attorneys.

Baldwin is dressed in grey suit, dark tie, white shirt with glasses and neatly combed hair.

Seated in back row of courtroom are four people, including defendant's brother Stephen Baldwin and wife Hilaria Baldwin.

11:35

Judge Mary Marlowe Sommers enters courtroom, jury selection proceedings begin, apologizes for delays linked to audio equipment.

One man in the jury pool says he has a medical issue. Judge says that will be addressed soon. He stays.

Judge introduces prosecution and defense teams who state their names.

Prosecution: Erlinda Ocampo, Kari Morrissey and an assistant.

Defense: Alex Spiro, Heather LeBlanc, Stephanie Kelemen and Luke Nikas. Baldwin sits between Keleman and Nikas.

The judge swears in two language interpreters. Judge swears in all jurors with right hands raised.

The judge reads the involuntary manslaughter charge against the defendant, "negligent use of a firearm," and the date and time of the alleged offense at Bonanza Creek Ranch on Oct. 21, 2021, and the allegation of "total disregard or indifference for the safety of others." She explains the burden of proof – beyond a reasonable doubt, and tells members of the jury pool that concerns can be addressed privately if wanted.

Judge asks whether any of the jury are familiar with attorney. One potential juror is familiar with defense attorneys.

The judge asks for a show of hands for people who already are familiar with the case. All but two people are familiar. Marlowe Sommer also asks whether anyone would be unable to be fair and impartial.

She asks for a show of hands of people who do not feel they cannot be fair or unbiased, and two hands go up. Those individuals offer an explanation and are excused later from jury duty and leave the room.

The judge asks people in the jury pool to come forward with possible scheduling conflicts and other obligations that may interfere with attending trial. More than 15 people come forward with conflicts ranging from obligations to medical patients, a vacation with plane tickets purchased, child- and elderly care obligations, scheduled surgeries and more.

NOON

Lead special prosecutor Kari Morrissey begins her questioning of the jury pool, says the objective for both sides is to get a fair and impartial jury.

"We also want to get jurors who can be fair to Mr. Baldwin."

She says she will begin to ask jurors whether there anything about their life experience or media exposure related to the prosecution against Baldwin that would cause issues with being fair as a juror. She begins questioning jurors, one by one, about their exposure to media coverage, whether it would interfere with fair and impartial jury service.

Jurors approach a microphone at the center of the courtroom to respond to questions. Jurors who have issues and exposure to media coverage that might influence others are encouraged approach the judge to speak where they can't be overheard with Morrissey, the judge and defense counsel Alex Spiro.

At least six people approach the bench in the course of Morrissey's vetting of potential jurors.

Morrissey asks each juror a series of other somewhat uniform questions: Do you own a firearm? Do you have strong feelings about firearms? Do you hold a concealed carry permit? Do you work in the film industry? Do you know anyone who works in the film industry?

A few jurors are asked if they feel comfortable sitting in judgement.

Morrissey moves through questioning of the 70-person jury pool, skipping some people who voiced scheduling conflicts.

1:15 jury questioning resumes after bathroom break.

Bailiff warns jury pool that there is no photography in the building and phones may be confiscated.

One woman says she hates firearms, but many people acknowledge owning firearms and very few people express strong opinions about guns.

1:35

Morrissey reads from her list of trial witnesses to see if the jury pool recognizes or knows any of them. No hands are raised, no one knows the witnesses.

1:40 lunch break