WSB's Veronica Waters reports two full days of questioning at Atlanta's federal courthouse have yielded 37 potential jurors.

Wednesday morning's jury selection got off to a somewhat rapid start as Judge Richard Story questioned and qualified three more people for the jury pool: a white male who says he sometimes listens to News/Talk 750 WSB; a black male who thinks people shouldn't get immunity or plea deals if they've committed crimes but who says he can fairly consider their testimony; and a white female who works in real estate who said she vaguely remembers WSB talk show hosts Neal Boortz and Clark Howard talking about the Campbell case when she moved here years ago.

Then a man who said his wife had clipped an article for him to read about Tuesday's jury selection was questioned. "They had names, too," said Juror #48, which appeared to surprise many in the courtroom since the judge has referred to none of the potential jurors by name, only by an assigned number. The man admitted he had ignored the judge's order to stay away from media coverage of the case. Story excused #48 from the jury pool but indicated he might call the man back into the courthouse later to find him in contempt of court.

Another man was excused from the jury pool for a possible hardship: He told the court that he works for the troubled Delta Air Lines, and that with cuts imminent, "It was intimated to me that this is not a good time for me not to be doing my job."

When the man left the courtroom, Judge Story allowed that while Juror #55 might be making more of that fear than necessary, if the man was fired while he was serving on the jury, he'd likely blame the lawyers and the judge. Assistant U. S. Attorney Russell Vineyard suggested the court might want to try to find out which person at Delta might have given the potential juror such advice but the judge demurred.

A tense moment came just after lunch, when it was revealed that a white male had written on his jury questionnaire that Bill Campbell "should be hung from the highest tree." Defense attorney Billy Martin called that "blatant racism." Judge Story excused the man without bringing him in for questioning.

Outside, Campbell said he wouldn't let that overshadow what he felt was, overall, a positive jury selecting experience.

"I'm disappointed, obviously, that that kind of attitude exists, but I'm more positive about the other jurors that indicated they could give me a fair trial," said Campbell. "That's all I've ever asked for, and I know that I'll be vindicated when that happens."

There is one final man to be questioned Thursday morning. Currently, although the judge hasn't decided whether or not to qualify a couple of remaining potential jurors who were questioned this week, the jury pool count appears to be 16 whites, 11 blacks and one Pacific Islander. It is from this group of 28 from which attorneys will pick the 12 main jurors. Defense attorneys get 10 peremptory strikes in this group; prosecutors get six. Then, attorneys turn to the remaining pool, where each side gets two strikes as they choose the four alternates who will also sit and hear the case. Nine people—five whites and four blacks--are already in the alternates' jury pool.

Story told attorneys that if it appears their cases will stretch over eight weeks, they should be prepared for some weekend work, indicating that he will convene the trial on Saturdays, if necessary.

"It's my intention to try this case in eight weeks or less," declared Story.

Opening statements in the case are slated for Monday.

Thursday, 19 January 2006