Links to Trial Coverage and Trial Discussion Only -Jury Selection Day One, May 9, 2011

baez talking to judge about jury selection and summons process - should be a representative of population of orange county - moves to strike the jury panel. Denied.

juror 1340 - man - judge advising him he is not being filmed.

mason asking juror if he has any medical issues, special dietary concerns, etc.

7 year old daughter and is married - any difficulty with family by then being gone - spends a lot of time together - wife would be happy to get rid of him

judge telling him he will be able to pay bills via internet - he can still talk with wife and daughter by phone in common area. supervised visitation on sundays.

judge reminding attorneys these jurors are looked at for hardships - they will get through all 112 people today so pack a lunch.

next juror - 1200

juror 1200 is a woman - she has an 89 year old father - she thinks it would be a hardship - she is the only caregiver.

excused for hardship

juror 1042 excused

1129 - he works so this would be a hardship -

http://www.cfnews13.com/article/news/2011/may/241410/jury-selection-photos?cmpid=twitter

lunch break until 1:15pm EST

http://www.wftv.com/news/27821780/detail.html

Judge's Opening Remarks Brings Casey To Tears

lots of "excused" for hardship -

InSession In Session
So far: 11 potential jurors have been dismissed, 7 will be recalled, 1 is waiting to speak to his employer.
2:01pm

DAY 1: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13

WATCH CASEY INSIDE JAIL: Raw Video | See Images

BILL SHEAFFER: Analysis On Jury Selection

JURY EXPERT: Day 1 Of Jury Selection

CASEY ENTERING COURT: Raw Video | See Images

CASEY CRYING: See Images

PROSPECTIVE JUROR: Believes Casey's Guilty

IMAGES: Casey's Jury Selection Begins

DOCUMENT: Casey Booking Info

TEAM COVERAGE: Casey Jury Selection

Story: http://www.wftv.com/news/27821780/detail.html

Casey Rejects Plea Deal On Day 1 Of Jury Selection
Posted: 4:33 am EDT May 9, 2011
Updated: 7:36 pm EDT May 9, 2011

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. -- It's the most anticipated trial in Central Florida's history. Day one of Casey Anthony's murder trial began early Monday morning with jury selection in Pinellas County.

Casey is accused of murdering her 2-year-old daughter, Caylee Marie Anthony, putting the body in the trunk of her car, and then discarding it in a wooded area behind her home. Caylee was reported missing in the summer of 2008.

"We are about to begin jury selection in the case of the state against Casey Anthony," said Chief Judge Belvin Perry.

Casey sat with her attorneys at her side, wearing a mint green blouse, gray slacks and her hair pulled back into a ponytail. Her parents, George and Cindy Anthony, were not there.

Casey couldn't hold back her tears Monday Judge Perry read the charges against her during jury selection for her high-profile murder trial on Monday in Clearwater.

WFTV and WFTV.com have been following every development in the case for almost three years.

Because the case is so huge, and followed so closely by so many in Orange County, the search for the 12 jurors and 8 alternates started 100 miles away and no one found that out until early Monday morning.

WFTV reporter Kathi Belich was told that the whole thing could have been avoided Monday because there was discussion of a possible plea deal, but Casey said no. She would have had to admit to every detail of Caylee's murder.

During jury selection, one man rubbed his forehead when he heard how long the trial could take; 6 to 8 weeks.

Casey seemed nervous on Monday, biting her nail, and chattering a lot. When Judge Perry told prospective jurors that she is charged with first-degree murder and faces the death penalty, Casey broke down and shook her head "no."

"I think they noticed and I think the impression they formed of Casey was not a good one," said jury expert Dr. Randy Fisher.

Prosecutors complained to the judge about Casey's crying. The judge told the group of 120 to ignore Casey's emotions. They were brought in after filling out a brief questionnaire about work and other personal information.

Defense attorney Jose Baez objected to the first panel of about 100 people in its entirety, saying that it wasn't representative of Orlando's demographics because it had only two Hispanic and four African-American jurors.

Perry denied the objection and questioning of the panelists began.

The first line of questioning, which could take two days, is whether being away from jobs and family for up to two months would cause hardships.

The judge excused a coast guardsman being deployed to Alaska, a man whose wife doesn't like to sleep alone, and a self-employed pet sitter.

Fisher said the worst thing Casey did was avoid eye contact, which makes a bad first impression.

"That she's guilty and she's ashamed," Fisher said.

One potential juror, who wasn't even asked, said he believes Casey's guilty.

"I feel that, you know, I know the verdict would be would be guilty," the potential juror said (watch video) .

The defense tried twice, unsuccessfully, to get the trial delayed.

Once they excuse those who have hardships, they'll start asking potential jurors whether they have opinions in the case and how they feel about the death penalty. That might not start until Wednesday.

Perry wants opening arguments to begin on May 17.

Casey is staying in a new jail cell in Pinellas County, and is as isolated as her old one. Casey was booked just before 6:30pm on Sunday (booking info) .

WFTV obtained surveillance video released Monday of Casey walking into the Pinellas County jail (video | images). In the video, the guard pats her down and takes a new photo of her. She'll stay in a special health care facility in the Pinellas County jail, during jury selection. That's a special place in the jail where they can keep her in an individual cell, separated from all the other inmates.

After 12 jurors and 8 alternates are picked to hear Casey's case, they will face several restrictions after they're brought back to Orlando for the trial.

The court will provide hotel rooms, food and transportation for the duration of the trial.

During that time, the court will have control over where the jurors go, what they read and watch on television, and how often they speak with their families.

Restrictions are not always so tight. In most capital cases, the jury is only sequestered during deliberations.

It's been 20 years since Orange County sequestered a jury for an entire trial. Casey is charged with aggravated child abuse, aggravated manslaughter of a child and providing false information to law enforcement. She has pleaded not guilty and says a babysitter kidnapped Caylee.

So far, there have been 66 interviews; 45 have been rejected, and there were callbacks consisting of 13 men and 8 women.

The court wrapped up at about 5:52pm and will resume on Tuesday at 8:30am.

http://www.wftv.com/news/27821780/detail.html