[Peace-discuss] report of Tuesday morning proceedings in Thompsoncase

Tue May 13 20:58:04 CDT 2008

: The thread's title is "May
: 12: Third Trial of Black Activist Patrick Thompson Set to Begin" and is
: listed on the left side of the page under "Local Interest".

Correction: the ucimc.org thread title is: "Third Trial of Black Activist
Patrick Thompson Under Way". My bad.
R

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Randall Cotton" <recotton at earthlink.net>
To: <announce at lists.communitycourtwatch.org>;
<peace-discuss at lists.chambana.net>
Sent: Tuesday, May 13, 2008 6:19 PM
Subject: [Peace-discuss] report of Tuesday morning proceedings in
Thompsoncase

: Keep in mind that there is a ucimc.org thread on this topic with
: information from yesterday's proceedings as well. Additional posts will
be
: made throughout the week as the case proceeds. The thread's title is
"May
: 12: Third Trial of Black Activist Patrick Thompson Set to Begin" and is
: listed on the left side of the page under "Local Interest".
:
: Today's proceedings began with 27 prospective jurors seated in the
: courtroom benches (10 white males, 15 white females and 2 black
females).
: Seated in the juror section were the 4 from the jury pool that were
being
: questioned yesterday as the court adjourned, 1 white female and 3 white
: males. 2 of them (a white female and a white male) had already
apparently
: already been accepted as jurors - only the remaining two white males
(one
: college age, one middle-aged) were being questioned as proceedings
began.
:
: Judge Harry Clem presiding.
:
: Prosecutor Michael Vujovich present
:
: Attorneys Robert Kirchner, Ruth Wyman present with Patrick Thompson
:
: About 10 folks watching from the benches.
:
: Questioning by Kirchner continued...
:
: Kirchner rejected the middle-aged man after questioning. The prospective
: juror replacing him (#95, white female) was rejected by Judge Clem due
to
: professional relationship with State's Attorney Julia Reitz. The
: prospective juror replacing her (#1, white male) was rejected by Judge
: Clem due because of a religion that has a basic tenet against "sitting
in
: judgment of other people". The prospective juror replacing him (#123,
: white male) was rejected by Kirchner after questioning. The prospective
: juror replacing him (#48, white female) was rejected by Kirchner after
: questioning. The prospective juror replacing him (#66, white male) was
: rejected by Judge Clem again due to a religion that has a basic tenet
: against "sitting in judgment of other people". The prospective juror
: replacing him (#111, white female) was accepted by Kirchner (along with
: the young man already seated at the start of the day's proceedings.
:
: Questioning was then turned over to Prosecutor Vujovich, who accepted
both
: the young man and white female juror #111.
:
: During Vujovich's questioning of each prospective juror, he notably
states
: there is absolutely no physical evidence and asks jurors whether they
can
: render a verdict based solely on verbal testimony.
:
: The current group of 4 total now-accepted jurors then joined the 4 other
: already selected sequestered jurors.
:
: 4 new prospective jurors were called  (#11, #54, #60, #89) all white
: males. Vujovich accepted all 4 after questioning. Kirchner rejected #11
: and #54. #11 had been notably jovial and flippant. The prospective
jurors
: replacing them were #112 and #62, both white males. Both were accepted
by
: Kirchner after questioning, but #62 was rejected by Vujovich. The
: prospective juror replacing him, #46 (white female) was accepted by both
: Vujovich and Kirchner. These 4 accepted jurors then joined the
: already-selected 8 jurors to fill out the 12 total jurors required.
:
: Then selection of 2 alternate jurors proceeded. The first two
prospective
: jurors were #78 and #119, both white females. #78 quickly admitted bias
: due to prior life experience and was excused by Judge Clem. The
: prospective juror replacing her (#26, white female) was accepted along
: with #119 by both Kirchner and Vujovich.
:
: The alternate jurors joined the 12 other jurors.
:
: 10 jurors were left seated in the benches and were dismissed by the
judge.
:
: The full jury and alternates were escorted into the courtroom and seated
: in the jury section. There were 7 white males and 5 white females on the
: jury proper. The two alternates were white females.
:
: The jury was formally sworn in.
:
: The judge advised it was inappropriate for anyone to approach them about
: the case, that they should disengage if this happens and that it should
be
: reported. The judge advised that they are not to talk about the case
with
: each other until all evidence and law instructions are heard.
:
: Court recessed just after noon and was scheduled to start again at
1:30PM
: with jurors and attorneys to report 1:15PM.
:
: The judge advised court watchers to limit foot traffic and that if they
: left, they will have to wait outside until a break in the proceedings,
: citing the concern is with the noisy doors which are distracting.
:
: Questions
: ----------
:
: Questions asked of prospective jurors by Judge Clem included:
: - you, your family or close friend have any involvement with  anyone in
: the Attorney General's office, State's Attorney's office or any other
: office regularly representing the people?
: - you, your family or close friend have any involvement with law
: enforcement?
: - do you know the defendant?
: - do you know the defendant's attorneys?
: - do you know any of the announced witnesses?
: - have you previously learned any fact of this case?
: - do you understand that the defendant is presumed innocent, that the
: burden of proof is entirely on the prosecution, that the burden of proof
: is beyond a reasonable doubt, that the defendant is not required to
: present any evidence or required to testify, that you are to sign for a
: guilty verdict only if evidence presented leads you to conclude guilt
: beyond a reasonable doubt? Do you support these principles?
: - anything about the nature of the case make you uncomfortable being a
: juror or would put you in a frame of mind where you could not be fair
and
: impartial?
: - anything you can think of that would result in advantage or
disadvantage
: to either side?
: - anything that would cause you to evaluate evidence or testimony from
one
: side differently?
: - anything you've left behind that would distract you or keep you from
: giving full attention to this trial for the rest of this week?
: [if there's an affirmative answer to any of the above questions, other
: questions are asked to clarify nature of any bias]
: [some additional questions are based on how they filled out a juror
: questionnaire]
:
: Questions asked of prospective jurors by Prosecutor Vujovich included:
: - do you have any children? how old?
: - there will be no physical evidence in this case. Can you render a
guilty
: or not guilty verdict based only on testimony of witnesses?
: - anything about the nature of the charges make you uncomfortable?
: - do you have any preconceived opinion on the case?
: - will you have an open mind, listen to the evidence and make a decision
: accordingly?
: - will you make your judgment based on your experiences in life?
: - have you, your family or a friend ever been the victim of a crime?
: - [if answer to above question is yes] Were they injured? Have you
formed
: an opinion of the police, court or prosecutor's work in that case?
: [some additional questions are based on how they filled out a juror
: questionnaire]
:
: Questions asked of prospective jurors by Attorney Kirchner included:
: - what news sources do you use?
: - do you read any local Internet blogs?
: - have you had any education in law or medicine?
: - Is there anything about the nature of the case - the type of
allegation,
: the fact that one side is black and one side is white or that one side
is
: male and one side is female that would factor in your evaluation of
: credibility of individuals or the evidence?
: - Are you familiar with VEYA or CU Citizens for Peace and Justice?
: - Are you familiar with Sunnycrest Apartments?
: - Do you have any opinion on whether allegations like this are usually
: true or not?
: - Have you ever been wrongfully accused?
: - do you ever play the role of interviewer to determine credibility of
or
: to judge an individual?
: - have you testified before in court cases?
: - are you involved in any pending cases?
: - what charitable organizations do you contribute to or volunteer for?
: - do you bring to the jury any special beneficial knowledge or
experience?
: [some additional questions are based on how they filled out a juror
: questionnaire]
:
: Scheduling notes:
: ------------------
: At one point, Judge Clem assured juror #26 that the trial would not last
: past the end of the week.
:
: It seemed that Judge Clem routinely makes it a point to try and recess
for
: lunch near noon for about an hour and 15 minutes.
:
: Judge Clem also reiterated that he firmly aims to end proceedings each
day
: 4:30PM at the latest, but that once deliberation by jurors begins, they
: may choose to stay after that.
:
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