From Deseret News archives:
Jury selection starts in Jeffs trial
Fifth District Judge James Shumate dismissed seven people during the session that started at 9 a.m. at the Dixie Center in St. George.
The judge, for a number of reasons, including illness, vacation and work commitments, dismissed about 30 people in the past week. Another estimated 30 people from the original list of 300 simply did not show up.
The jailed Jeffs, who is charged with two first-degree felony counts of rape as an accomplice was not in attendance. The leader of the Fundamentalist LDS Church is accused of conducting a spiritual marriage between an unwilling 14-year-old girl and her 19 year-old cousin. Jeffs is expected to be at a hearing this afternoon that will deal with jury instructions.
Included with the jury questionnaire was a list of the possible witnesses in the case. The prosecution listed 18 people while the defense named 69 potential witnesses.
Jurors were asked if they are practicing members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, whether they had had any experience with member of the Fundamentalist LDS Church, whether they have discussed the case with anyone or formed an opinion about Jeffs' innocence or guilt.
The LDS Church disavowed polygamy in the 1890s.
The potential jury pool included people ranging in age from the early 20s to the elderly with an apparent equal mix of men and women. One older woman left the room sobbing, clutching the questionnaire and left after being told the judge had dismissed her.
The completed questionnaire will be reviewed by the judge and attorneys over the weekend to determine if anyone should be dismissed. Potential jurors will then be called to court, 50 at a time, beginning Monday, where they will be questioned one-on-one in the judge's chambers.
The trial is anticipated to begin on Wednesday and is scheduled run through Sept. 21.
E-mail: nperkins@desnews.com
