Legally Speaking: Comparing jury selections in the Jodi Arias case

Monday is the third day of jury selection in the State v. Jodi Arias case.

Judge Sherry Stephens questioned 400 potential jurors last week with the survivors ordered to complete a jury questionnaire and return this week for more questioning.

By the end of this week we could have the 12 individuals who will decide whether Arias gets the good night needle or life in prison.

Are you wondering how this time compares to the first go around?

Well, up to now this jury selection seems to be on par with the first. Jury selection started in December of 2012 and lasted seven days (not full days). The court called up five panels of 75 jurors each for a total of 375 potential jurors.

The resulting jury contained jurors from throughout the panels, from No. 12 up to No. 233, so it wasn’t a big deal if you were one of the first 18.

Should more than 400 jurors have been called up for this re-trial?

Quite possibly since we have a big elephant in the room that was not there last time. The elephant being the issue of the media coverage of the first trial. That is what some call an insurmountable obstacle in getting a fair and impartial jury. Because of the media exposure from the first trial, it is possible the remaining 176 potential jurors will be whittled down to under 18 and another panel will be called up.

Considering how large Maricopa county is, a jury will be impaneled for the re-trial.

The only question is how long it will take.