Notes from Reporter Brandon Johansson, in Arapahoe County district court during jury selection for the Aurora theater shooting trial of James Holmes:
2:45 p.m.
CENTENNIAL | The two sides in the Aurora theater shooting trial agreed to release another 59 prospective jurors Wednesday afternoon, bringing the total to 598.
Judge Carlos Samour, Jr. said again Wednesday that he has been happy with the number of prospective jurors who have reported to court so far.
For yesterday’s morning session, for example, he said 147 jurors reported out of only about 180 summonses delivered.
“I’m still encouraged by the numbers we are getting,” he said.
One of the jurors Wednesday morning was apparently concerned about their privacy should they be picked for the juror.
The judge tells prospective jurors each session that the lawyers might research their online presence as they try to choose a jury and in a note to the judge, the juror asked if that meant lawyers would research their family as well. The juror also wondered if a sketch artist would be allowed to draw jurors.
Samour said that because the juror’s question wasn’t discovered until after they left, he would have to answer them when they return.
Court adjourned for the day around 2:30 p.m. and is set to resume at 8:40 a.m. Thursday.
1:40 p.m.
CENTENNIAL | With ten more jurors released in the Aurora theater shooting trial Wednesday afternoon, a total of 529 have been released since jury selection started last week.
The jurors released Wednesday included six who didn’t speak any English. Judge Carlos Samour, Jr. has had a policy of releasing prospective jurors who spoke no English, but asking jurors who speak some English to at least fill out the juror questionnaire.
Those released included a husband and wife who spoke no English. The wife was due in court today, but the husband wasn’t due until next month. Samour released them both today so the husband doesn’t have to return.
Three others were released because they do not live in Arapahoe County.
The other juror was released because they care for their disabled husband and brought a note from their doctor saying so.
Another juror said her husband died Jan. 8 and she was dealing with estate issues. The judge said she didn’t bring proof so she was not released.
Samour is now reading the advisement to this afternoon’s group of jurors. The sides will reconvene shortly after 2 p.m.
10:10 a.m.
CENTENNIAL | Another 69 jurors were released Wednesday morning in the Aurora theater shooting trial, bringing the total released to 528.
The batch released Wednesday morning included many who appeared at the same time Monday as a prospective juror who court staff believed was drunk. That juror was not among those released, and the defense had previously said they prefer that he be asked to come back at a later date.
Those released Wednesday include several who had asked to be released, including one who said she was moving to Virginia, one who said they live in Grand Lake and another who lives in Victor and said they have relatives who work for Aurora police.
A juror who got sick in the middle of Friday’s session was also released.
A juror who appeared in court Wednesday said she was pregnant and due right around when opening arguments are expected to start in May or June. She asked to be released. The court said she could write that information in the hardship section of the questionnaire, but she was not immediately released.
Holmes sat quietly wearing a light-colored sweater during Wednesday’s session.
Court in recess until 1:10.
9:15 a.m. Just five jurors released this morning. Likely many more coming later this morning because they didn’t stipulate excuses any at yesterday’s afternoon session. Total of 459 jurors released so far.