Re: September 21, hearing, tv coverage
michaelsjustice Michaels Justice
by Mellie321
UPDATE from Erin(JUSTICE4MJ) at court: Here outside judge Pastor's courtroom and learned the trial has been moved to chambers. 1:15 pm pst
Key step in jury selection starts in trial of Michael Jackson's doctorBy Alan Duke, CNN
September 21, 2011 -- Updated 1955 GMT (0355 HKT)
Dr. Conrad Murray is charged with involuntary manslaughter in the 2009 death of pop star Michael Jackson.STORY HIGHLIGHTS
Lawyers will argue "for cause" dismissals of potential jurors
The final jury is expected to be chosen Friday
Opening statements in the trial of Michael Jackson's lawyer are set for Tuesday
Los Angeles (CNN) -- The process for choosing the 12 Los Angeles citizens who will decide if Michael Jackson's doctor is criminally responsible for the pop icon's death begins a critical phase Wednesday afternoon.
Defense lawyers and prosecutors will argue over which of 145 potential jurors should be dismissed from the jury pool "for cause," a process designed to remove anyone with a bias they cannot put aside.
Dr. Conrad Murray, who is charged with involuntary manslaughter in Jackson's death, faces up to four years in prison if the jury finds him guilty.
The "for cause" strikes will be based mostly on written answers potential jurors gave to 113 questions earlier this month.
Was Conrad Murray trial dragged out? Lawyers have had a week to study the questionnaire responses, a process they went through once before in April before the trial was delayed for several months.
"One of the things that we learned in the case the last go-around in the jury selection, it's absolutely shocking how many jurors think already they know everything about this case," defense lawyer Ed Chernoff said in an interview last week with Jean Casarez, a reporter with CNN sister network In Session.
After "for cause" hearings Wednesday and Thursday, the potential jurors remaining in the pool will gather in court Friday for face-to-face questioning by the lawyers. It is expected 12 jurors and about six alternates will be chose by the end court Friday.
Opening statements for the trial, which will be televised, are scheduled for September 27. The judge told members of the jury pool he expects their service will be over on or about October 28.
The Los Angeles coroner has ruled that Jackson's death on June 25, 2009, was caused by an overdose of the surgical anesthetic propofol, combined with other drugs.
Prosecutors have accused Murray, who served as Jackson's personal and full-time physician at the time, of having a role in the overdose.
They contend Murray used a makeshift intravenous drip to administer propofol intended to help Jackson sleep, a practice they argue violated the standard of care and led to the pop music icon's death.
