Sandusky Jury Selection Begins Tuesday
By: Jeff Preval
Updated: June 13, 2012
BELLEFONTE, CENTRE COUNTY - Jury selection in the biggest criminal court
case in the state begins Tuesday morning in Centre County court.
About 600 residents in Centre County received a summons to be potential jurors in the Jerry Sandusky child sex abuse case. Nearly 200 will be present for the first of three phases that will be used to select a 12-member panel.
The jury will end up deciding the former Penn State football defensive coach's fate in a highly-anticipated trial proceeding.
Bernie Cantorna, a State College attorney said the phase process is, "unprecedented, it's never been done here or anywhere in central Pennsylvania."
Cantorna believes the prosecution wants to seat people who have no bias coming into the trial phase and want people who are not invested in Penn State. Meanwhile, Cantorna thinks Joe Amendola, Sandusky's attorney wants to have people who don't have a bias of Sandusky and who may be of Sandusky's age or background.
Experts say the big challenge for either side is to find 20 people who haven't made up their mind about the case. It's likely that potential jurors will be asked whether they have any history of abuse or were victims of abuse.
About 600 residents in Centre County received a summons to be potential jurors in the Jerry Sandusky child sex abuse case. Nearly 200 will be present for the first of three phases that will be used to select a 12-member panel.
The jury will end up deciding the former Penn State football defensive coach's fate in a highly-anticipated trial proceeding.
Bernie Cantorna, a State College attorney said the phase process is, "unprecedented, it's never been done here or anywhere in central Pennsylvania."
Cantorna believes the prosecution wants to seat people who have no bias coming into the trial phase and want people who are not invested in Penn State. Meanwhile, Cantorna thinks Joe Amendola, Sandusky's attorney wants to have people who don't have a bias of Sandusky and who may be of Sandusky's age or background.
Experts say the big challenge for either side is to find 20 people who haven't made up their mind about the case. It's likely that potential jurors will be asked whether they have any history of abuse or were victims of abuse.
