Mar 21, 2011
Jury selected in Barry Bonds trial
After several hours of parsing the comments of some 60 potential jurors, and then asking them detailed questions, U.S. District Court Judge Susan Illston and lawyers from both sides sliced the pool to 12 jurors -- eight women and four men -- and 2 alternates.
They spent several minutes with each prospective juror, asking about their marital status, occupation, if they had served in the military, been on previous juries and if they could render a fair verdict.
Government attorneys asked if any jurors were fans of Bonds's former team, the San Francisco Giants. Several raised hands, indicating a "yes." They also asked jurors their views on drug use and perjury, and whether either was justified under any circumstances.
"It's cheating," said one male juror, of steroid use.
Bonds, who entered the court house amid a steady rain early Monday, sat impassively during most of the proceedings.
"We accept that most people have an opinion on this case," said Bonds's attorney, Cristina Arguedas.
The first juror questioned by Illston, a single woman from Pacifica, Calif., says she could be impartial during the trial. But a former flight attendant, who used to work on charter flights for baseball teams, begged off. She did not provide specifics.
Still, the aura of Bonds had at least one potential juror ? a 61-year-old San Francisco man ? unsure he could side against "such a great athlete."
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