6:30 PM:

6:25 PM:

5:30 PM: The jury pool is full.

4:45 PM: Juror #444 is a Black woman who enjoys practicing with her gun at the firing range and carries her weapon for personal protection. She has seen some video in the Ahmaud Arbery shooting case, and says she doesn’t know enough about it to form any opinions.

Is Juror #444 open to the idea that some people fly the old Georgia flag for their heritage and aren’t racist? Yes, she says, and she won’t hold it against anyone in the case; she can be fair and impartial. Says Black people, POC aren’t treated fairly in criminal justice system, in her personal view. She can set that aside if chosen, too.

She tries not to talk about the Ahmaud Arbery shooting case because it could lead to conflict; she doesn’t like to argue. Greg McMichael’s attorney Frank Hogue asks her to detail concerns about why it took so long for the arrests. She says it’s a big concern of hers, and she holds it against the people who had evidence and did nothing. She thinks it’s important to find out why at trial.

4:15 PM: Juror #441 is a white woman who has been a coworker of Leigh McMichael--mother of defendant Travis, wife of defendant Greg.

Just after the shooting in Satilla Shores happened, the juror heard there was a shooting there and sent Leigh a message to ask if she was all right. Leigh McMichaal sent a message back to say she was all right. That was the extent of it. At the time, she didn’t know Leigh’s relatives were involved. When she learned that later, she checked in with her. Leigh McMichael told her, “Mainly she was talking about that Travis felt horrible.”

She doesn’t bring it up, but she listens when Leigh McMichael brings up the case. She described their relationship as “professional.” Juror #441 feels like she knows Greg and Travis through Leigh, as well as Travis’s sister, Lindsay.

Given your relationship with Leigh, would you be a good juror in this case? She believes she can be objective, but doesn’t want to be in the situation, says Juror 441.

“Either way it goes, I’m most likely going to continue to [work with her]... and either way it goes it could... I, it just... (makes a noise )... it could be uncomfortable.”

Still, Juror #441 says her relationship will not sway her decisions. She has never met Greg McMichael, but did talk to him on the phone for legal advice about a personal situation involving an ex-husband.

She has been on a civil jury which came to a verdict; she has firearms training; she got a gun for personal protection related to concerns over the ex-husband.

4:10 PM: The defense had no questions for Juror #440. She appears to be a white woman. She Googled the case after getting her jury summons, and learned there were two men in a truck, and they thought the defendant was running or had stolen something. They were chasing him down and they got into an altercation – the defendant and the two white men. (She clarifies that she is referring to Ahmaud Arbery as “the defendant.”)

Juror #440 says she doesn’t know enough about the case to have formed an opinion on guilt or innocence.

She clarified her jury pool question about people being diagnosed with mental illnesses. She says everyone, at some point in their life, experiences depression or anxiety, and could be diagnosed with those things in a clinical setting.

She’s concerned about possible riots surrounding the case.

Why did she research the case after she was summoned? Because they said on the news the summons had gone out, and she wanted to know what she was showing up for.

3:00 PM: The mystery of the potential juror greeted by a “Justice for Ahmaud” demonstrator is solved. He’s related to them. He was struck for cause because of a hardship, since he’s the only caregiver and income earner for his toddler. He’s got to pick up his child no later than 4:00 each afternoon.

2:30 PM:

2:05 PM: Juror #452 is back. Greg McMichael attorney Laura Hogue asks if he encountered demonstrators or knows anything about their message. “Maybe something about elections,” he says. Are you considered an essential worker? Yes. Says if he has to be out, his job would fill his spot.

Juror 452 has had fairly limited discussion with wife about the Ahmaud Arbery shooting case. Does his wife share his opinion? “I think she feels the same way. She’s a little weird when it come to politics...Right now everything seems to be no compromise or middle ground.”

His co-worker told him she’s a cousin of Ahmaud Arbery’s. “She was sad, and I let her know I was there for her as a coworker.” Her emotions had no particular effect on him, he says. He’s served on a grand jury before; thinks he did a good job.

Juror 452 understands that his opinion of the case is based on limited, somewhat biased information. Is he the right juror for this case? He says he’s no lawyer: “I honestly don’t know how to answer that. If I had to, I would do my absolute best.”

Roddie Bryan attorney Kevin Gough asks Juror #452 what he’s asked all potential jurors lately--their church affiliation. “Used to be Catholic.” Politics? “I identify as a Republican, but have always been open on both sides.”

He’s asked whether he has any opinions of the defendants.

“Personally, I don’t know much about any of them; I don’t think it was very smart to have the camera out taping it, to be honest,” says Juror #452.

1:15 PM: They’re back from lunch. Travis McMichael’s attorney Bob Rubin says as they were outside enjoying sunshine, there were demonstrators outside who were chanting slogans and

“One of the jurors was actually approached by one of the people in the group...” says there was a handshake or a hug, and they got video of it. “The potential jury is facing pressure from aspects of the community who want a certain verdict in this case.”

Judge Timothy Walmsley reminds lawyers not to assume the worst in people’s intentions and actions, and notes it’s entirely possible that that potential juror and that demonstrator know each other. They will examine whether that person could be a fair and impartial juror in this case.

12:45 PM: Juror #432, W/M, wrote on questionnaire: “I believe he was followed with the intent to start a conflict…” He believes the defendants are guilty, but says his opinion is not fixed and can hold the State to its burden, fairly consider defenses.

Juror 432 says he can be fair and impartial. He’s seen friends of color pulled aside by authorities, but not himself. He supports Black Lives Matter & the ‘I Run with Maud’ displays. Believes people of color are not treated fairly in justice system.

He says of the confederate flag, “I do believe some groups of people wave the flag in more notorious ways... I don’t believe it was originally constructed as a racist symbol...more see it as a fighting flag.” Can be impartial about reasons people fly it.

Coworkers have told him they’ve had run-ins with Greg McMichael in which McMichael treated them unfairly.

12:08 PM:

11:28 AM: Another juror who’s a mom is struck from the panel; she’s the only one home with her children, who are enrolled in school virtually.

10:21 AM: They’re calling in Juror #421, the first one from today’s panel who’ll be questioned.

10:00 AM: The first full and on-time panel of jurors is in the Glynn County courthouse today. Those were the kudos defense attorney Jason Sheffield gave the potential jurors today during panel voir dire. All 20 showed up, and and all of them arrived on schedule.

Nine jurors say they’ve formed or expressed an opinion on the defendants’ guilt or innocence. Eight indicate they have prejudice or bias for or against the trio.

Nine members know each other personally – the largest group they’ve had so far of people who know one another. The Judge joked, It’s a bit of a reunion.

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