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Simpson jurors selected

Panel consists of nine women, three men







After four long days and a marathon court session into the night Thursday, a jury has been seated in the O.J. Simpson trial on armed robbery and kidnapping charges.

The jury of three men and nine women, along with six alternates, will return to court Monday for opening statements in the trial of Simpson and co-defendant Clarence "C.J." Stewart, who are charged with holding up two sports memorabilia dealers in September 2007 in a Palace Station hotel room.


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  • The panel is comprised of 10 white jurors and two Hispanic jurors. Two of the alternate jurors are black.

    Simpson was involved in the selection of the panel, poring over jury questionnaires and whispering to his attorneys as they finalized their decisions.

    During breaks in the process, however, Simpson was relaxed, discussing Saturday's University of Southern California vs. Ohio State football game with reporters and reading a newspaper sports section.

    District Judge Jackie Glass prodded lawyers through the jury selection process in hopes of picking the panel by Thursday. She pushed through lunch to finish voir dire questioning of potential jurors by mid-afternoon, leaving a pool of 40 potential jurors for lawyers to cut down to 18.

    Defense lawyers fought to keep two other black jurors in the group after prosecutors tried to remove them in the final phase of jury selection, the peremptory challenges.

    Peremptory challenges allow prosecutors and defense lawyers to remove potential jurors without giving a reason, but a 1986 U.S. Supreme Court case, Batson vs. Kentucky, prohibits the dismissal of jurors because of their race.

    Lawyers for Simpson and Stewart challenged the removal of the jurors under the Batson case, saying prosecutors were systematically eliminating black jurors from the jury.

    The first challenge involved a fifth-grade school teacher and church pastor who has worked in prison ministry.

    District Attorney David Roger said the woman seemed to be "forgiving by nature" and unsure if she wanted to sit on the jury.

    Simpson lawyer Yale Galanter accused prosecutors of systematically removing the only black juror who, at that time, was the only black person among the first 12 potential jurors.

    "The systematic requirement is met because this is the one bite of the apple," Galanter said.

    Glass denied the challenge.

    "Through the last four days, there has been no evidence to me that the state has made a purposeful effort to discriminate against African-American jurors," she said.

    A short time later, prosecutors wanted to excuse another black woman from the jury pool.

    The bookkeeper was a devout Christian who had written in her juror questionnaire that she couldn't send anyone to jail, Roger said.

    She had also said she believed her brother was wrongfully convicted of child abuse in the mid-1980s, he said.

    Defense lawyers renewed their challenge, which was again rejected by Glass.

    Outside the courthouse, Galanter said the rejected Batson challenges could eventually lead to appeals.

    But first, the trial.

    "I've been confident from day one," he said. "I don't think my client did anything wrong. I don't think my client broke any laws."

    Contact reporter Brian Haynes at bhaynes@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0281. The Los Angeles Times contributed to this report.

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    Cheryl Ortega wrote on May 05, 2009 05:11 PM: I would like to make a comment about the all white juries. My fiance was convicted of 1 degree murder when is was self defence. It was a all white jury and it took them a few hours to convict him. He was young, black and in a gang. How can a white person judge a Black person fairly with all the racist in the world. I am white and as a retired bondsperson I can say I have walked in the shoes of alot of this young Black defendants that was found guilty in a few hours because they were Black. When did white person on trial with a all black jury and the defendant killed a little Black girl? Would their ever be a riot because the jury wouldnt be fair. Well they would be just as fair as a white jury. And knowing Black families like I do as my Step Dad was Black, they would take their time and make sure he was guilty.
    I our constitution it says all men are created equal. It really gets me and I know I am stepping on toes of some jury members when I say this, but we all are Gods children and he doesnt see color. He tells us to love EVERYONE. SO MAYBE you should instead of reading the Bible all the time, have someone explain what it means because by your actions to other races,Blacks, Hispanics,Asians, Etc, we
    dont worship the same God.
    So those families of other races and your loved ones were judge by all white juries write to your governor and complain about unfairness. There is investigations going on in other states including Nevada. GOOD LUCK, I HOPE THIS INFO HELPS YOUR LOVED ONES.


    Blah wrote on September 13, 2008 03:36 PM: If OJ is found not-guilty, he still doesn't get the property back as the Goldmans put a lien on it!

    lol


    Kato wrote on September 12, 2008 10:17 PM: old black oj had a white wife
    looky, looky here
    with stab wound here
    and a stab wound there
    here a wound, there a wound
    everywhere a stab wound
    old black oj killed his white wife
    looky, looky here


    whats up? wrote on September 12, 2008 07:53 PM: my comments keeo disappearing, is it something i said


    ken wrote on September 12, 2008 07:22 PM: race divides, divide and conquer, it's working. the lawyers are behind this, just follow the $$$$$$$$


    big cost with nothing accomplished wrote on September 12, 2008 06:59 PM: As the sun rises from the east, there is going to be an appeal and sequel if he is convicted in this case.

    So fasten your seat belts, it's going to be an expensive, boring exercise in judicial blah, blah, blah waiting for the next trail. His attorney's are probably just going through the motions, looking for the mistrial/appeal sweetspot.

    If he's acquitted in this case, I just want his sorry self out of Nevada.


    Al wrote on September 12, 2008 05:41 PM: The defense wanted an all-white jury so they can appeal right away. And of course when he is found guilty, there will be civil unrest because of the racist jury. If O.j. was getting his stolen property back, where is the police report from when it was stolen?


    Erick wrote on September 12, 2008 05:14 PM: Is Booker T. a race-baiter or just a bit prejudiced? Racism comes in more than one color. By the way, Booker, it's spelled rhetorical.


    LM wrote on September 12, 2008 05:05 PM: I pledge allegence to the flag of the United State of America, one nation under God, with Liberty & Justice for all.

    May Truth be spoken and discovered, may Justice be dispensed, and may appropriate Mercy, if any deserved, be granted.


    O.J. Simpson wrote on September 12, 2008 03:53 PM: Now lookie here, I be in dat room to gets my stuff. Those mofo's takes it from my crib. I told my G's to pop a cap to any of dem thugs wiff my stuff. I hopes not to take it in the poopshoot.


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