Notes from Aurora Sentinel reporter Brandon Johansson from the Aurora theater shooting trial of James Holmes in Centennial
2:50 p.m.
Judge Carlos Samour Jr. released two more jurors Wednesday afternoon, one for medical reasons and another who didn’t speak English very well.
So far, in three sessions, Samour has released 21 jurors from their summonses, leaving 386 prospective jurors from the past two days who could still be on the jury.
Samour said he has been happy with the turnout so far. Court officials sent out 250 summonses for each session and expected between 120 and 150 people to report to court each session.
The afternoon session Wednesday had 141 prospective jurors in it, which is about as many as the courtroom can hold.
“It’s right about full capacity right now,” Samour said.
The two sides are expected to discuss completed jury questionnaires for the first time Thursday.
1:40 p.m.
A prospective juror in the Aurora theater shooting trial was caught taking a picture of their jury questionnaire during this morning’s session, the judge said this afternoon.
Judge Carlos Samour, Jr. said a deputy forced the man to erase the picture, but because the man’s juror badge wasn’t visible, court staff aren’t sure who it was.
Taking a picture of the badge would be a clear violation of the court’s rules. Samour told jurors before giving them the questionnaire that the documents are private and that they can’t discuss their contents with others or bring them out of the courtroom.
The judge said he will now remind all jurors to make sure their badge is visible at all times.
Samour also dismissed four of the 131 prospective jurors who reported this morning because they lived in a different county, weren’t a citizen or didn’t speak English.
The court sent summonses to 250 people per session and so far about 130 have appeared in court for each session, Samour said. The afternoon session has 138 prospective jurors.
“I think we are getting good numbers, especially considering the conditions outside,” Samour said.
Before the afternoon session started, Samour read off some of the excuses prospective jurors sent to the court asking to be dismissed. One person said jury duty would be a problem for his business. Another laid out in great detail a series of stomach ailments that he said would make jury duty difficult.
Three jurors who were supposed to appear for the morning session instead appeared in the afternoon and will be allowed to fill out the questionnaire.
Samour said the two sides received completed questionnaires from yesterday’s session around noon Wednesday. The two sides will begin discussion those in court tomorrow, he said.
10:07 a.m.
After reading his introductory remarks, Judge Samour called a recess until 1:10 p.m.
The two sides will get the first batch of jury questionnaires from yesterday and could discuss them in court this afternoon.
Another round of jurors will come in at 1:30 p.m.
9:20 a.m.
The judge in the Aurora theater shooting trial released seven jurors from service Wednesday because they didn’t speak English, lived in a different county or had a medical reason.
One juror was so ill he or she needed an ambulance, court officials said. That person will be asked to return on another day, though
Judge Carlos Samour, Jr. said under normal circumstances the jury commissioner would have released the jurors, but in this case he wants the prosecution and defense to weigh in before he releases any prospective jurors.
Samour briefly questioned two jurors who said they now live in Denver County before releasing them.
Court officials expect between 130 and 150 jurors at the morning and afternoon sessions. On Tuesday, the first day of jury selection, Samour said 135 jurors reported.
Also today, Samour said in an order that there were actually seven jurors on Tuesday who were mistakenly dismissed, not six as he said Tuesday. The seven either had notes from their doctors or had proof that they no longer reside in Arapahoe County, but Samour said he doesn’t want jurors dismissed without some discussion.
Holmes is sitting quietly at the defense table, again wearing a dark blazer and khaki pants.
7:00 a.m.
The second day of jury selection in the Aurora theater shooting trial is set to start at 9 a.m. at the Arapahoe County Justice Center.
Judge Carlos Samour Jr. said during Tuesday’s session that he expects between 130 and 150 prospective jurors to report for each session, one in the morning and one in the afternoon.
The first wave of jurors reported Tuesday afternoon and court staff told the defense and prosecution that the first batch of completed jury questionnaires will be delivered to them Wednesday afternoon.
The two sides are expected to make their first arguments about prospective jurors sometime Wednesday afternoon.
James Holmes, who is accused of killing 12 and wounding 70 more during a July 2012 shooting rampage at an Aurora movie theater, appeared in court Tuesday wearing street clothes. He sat quietly at the defense table throughout Tuesday’s hearings.