Ala. judge lays groundwork in running-death trial

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Associated Press

Ala. judge lays groundwork in running-death trial
By JAY REEVES, Associated Press | August 18, 2014 | Updated: August 18, 2014 4:27pm

GADSDEN, Ala. (AP) — A judge is going to screen twice more than usual potential jurors for the capital murder trial of an Alabama woman accused of making her 9-year-old granddaughter run until she collapsed and died.

Circuit Judge Billy Ogletree said Monday that there could be "publicity issues" in selecting a jury for the case, which has received widespread news coverage.

Ogletree told lawyers he would call about 750 potential jurors; courthouse officials say about 375 are called for a typical trial.

The trial of 49-year-old Joyce Hardin Garrard is set for Sept. 22.

Prosecutors say Garrard forced Savannah Hardin to run for about three hours in February 2012 as punishment for a lie. Savannah collapsed and died days later.


Read more: http://www.chron.com/news/crime/article/Ala-judge-lays-groundwork-in-running-death-trial-5696221.php

[rpannier]

1. May not be a popular opinion, but I say Kudos to the judge

The woman getting a fair trial is even more important in this instance
It'll likely be an emotionally charged case
From the story, there appears to be a lot of publicity

Abe Fortas, who was assigned Clarence Gideon's defense before th US Supreme Court famously noted that he was pleased to hear the Gideon was an intensely dislikeable person because, 'If the law fairly represented him then all Americans benefit'

If she's convicted on the impartial study of the evidence, so be it
If she's convicted on emotion then we are all losers

[Feral Child]

2. Well stated. n/t