BOISE, Idaho — Day 3 of jury selection for the trial of Chad Daybell has finished. 37 potential jurors have been identified and the jury selection process will continue tomorrow as Judge Boyce and the attorneys on the case work to advance 50 potential jurors for the trial of Chad Daybell.
RECAP: Chad Daybell Jury Selection Day 2
6:03 pm: Court is adjourned for the day.
6:01 pm: Two jurors were passed privately with the judge earlier. Now, 37 jurors have been advanced by Judge Boyce. 50 potential jurors are needed for the pool.
5:58 pm: The juror is passed with no questions from the State or the defense. The jurors passed in this group will now return to the courtroom.
5:53 pm: The final juror enters the courtroom. Neither the state nor the defense have questions for them, so Judge Boyce moves to a discussion of the juror's responses on the questionnaire relating to the death penalty.
5:51 pm: The next juror is quickly advanced by Judge Boyce after a brief discussion about the death penalty. They are the 34th of 50 needed potential jurors.
5:46 pm: It is unclear at this time if the juror who privately discussed with Judge Boyce has advanced. Just two jurors are left to be questioned in the current group.
5:44 pm: Judge Boyce returns to the courtroom following the discussion with the juror.
5:22 pm: The courtroom is vacated and the livestream paused while Judge Boyce speaks with the juror about a private matter at the Judge's request.
5:18 pm: The next juror is aware of some details from the Lori Vallow case, they're now being questioned about the extent of that knowledge and how it impacts their opinion on the trial.
5:16 pm: The next juror is passed after discussing their position on the death penalty and arriving at the position that they could impose the death penalty if the trial required it. Now, 33 jurors have been advanced onto the juror pool.
5:03 pm: After clarifying their stance on the death penalty, another juror is advanced by Judge Boyce. Now just 18 potential jurors are needed for the pool.
4:46 pm: Two additional jurors are advanced after questioning regarding the death penalty, the potential juror pool now totals 31.
4:21 pm: Judge Boyce questions the next juror about their opinions on the death penalty and if they could impose it should the trial require it. The juror replies that they could do that.
4:11 pm: The State moves to strike the juror on the basis that the juror has consumed media related to the Lori Vallow verdict even though they have indicated that this will not play into their decision-making process. Prior agrees and Judge Boyce excuses the juror for cause.
4:05 pm: The next juror in the courtroom states that they watched the sentencing of Lori Vallow but that they did not follow that case extensively.
4:02 pm: Rob Wood motions to remove the juror after inquiring about the media they have consumed relating to the case, which included a Netflix documentary. Prior agrees and Judge Boyce grants the dismissal.
3:59 pm: Judge Boyce asks the juror if they understand that Daybell is presumed innocent until proven guilty, despite what the media might discuss. The juror says they agree and understand.
3:56 pm: Judge Boyce questions the juror about their media exposure and asks if they have developed an opinion of the case. The juror replies that they have not.
3:54 pm: The first juror in the courtroom was meant to be included in yesterday's process. They clarified that they misunderstood the instructions they received, leading them to miss the selection.
3:52 pm: Judge Boyce has returned to the courtroom. Now the individual voir dire process will begin, each of the potential jurors in the group will be questioned in the courtroom regarding their responsibilities and their questionnaire answers.
3:30 pm: Court has left for afternoon recess and should return in 15 to 20 minutes.
3:21 pm: As jurors are dismissed from questioning to begin the individual voir dire, Boyce asks one of the jurors to stay behind. The juror reveals that they watched the jury selection process earlier to get a grasp of what questions would be asked. Judge Boyce thanks the juror for their honesty and strikes them from the trial.
3:15 pm: A juror is struck after indicating that they are uncomfortable with the graphic images they will need to view during the trial.
2:50 pm: Prosecuting attorney Lindsey Blake is addressing the jurors, stressing the importance of the guidelines the jurors need to follow. Blake also spent time clarifying the precise aspects of the case which the State has the burden of proving during the trial.
2:35 pm: Another juror is dismissed to continue their work duties.
2:33 pm: The juror is released due to hardship following the meeting, details were not disclosed to the courtroom.
2:30 pm: Judge Boyce asks for a quick sidebar with a juror and attorneys off the record.
2:28 pm: A juror in the group is dismissed to care for their parents who have severe dementia.
2:23 pm: Another juror is dismissed by Judge Boyce as they are a single parent and working full time.
2:22 pm: Prosecutors move to strike the first juror from this group after detailing conflicts with his work schedule.
2:19 pm: Judge Boyce asks the potential jurors if the 8-10 week expected duration of the case will cause hardships for them, several jurors in the group indicate that it would.
2:09 pm: The Judge reads the charges facing Daybell to the new group of potential jurors, informing them that he does not need to prove his innocence and that the state needs to prove Daybell's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
1:59 pm: The new group of 17 potential jurors has been seated.
1:58 pm: Judge Boyce explains that there will be a delay in starting the review for this group of jurors.
1:55 pm: The court confirms that one juror who was absent yesterday will be present for this session, meaning the new group of potential jurors to be questioned totals at 17.
1:46 pm: The attorneys and Judge Boyce have re-entered the courtroom and are now waiting for the jurors to be brought in.
12:54 pm: Court enters a recess and is expected to return at around 1:30 pm.
12:52 pm: The advanced jurors are given instructions by Judge Boyce and passed for cause before being released for the day. 29 of the needed 50 potential jurors have been selected for trial.
12:50 pm: The group of 9 jurors advanced by Judge Boyce today re-enter the courtroom.
12:49 pm: Batey moves to dismiss the juror, Prior agrees and Judge Boyce dismisses the juror.
12:47 pm: The next juror in the courtroom is the last in this group. The juror indicates that they have seen CourtTV reporting on the case and that they have knowledge of the details including details of the victims, specifically referring to JJ Vallow as "sweet-natured."
12: 44 pm: The juror advances as number 29 of the needed 50 potential jurors.
12:38 pm: The next juror entering the courtroom states that they do not watch the news or use social media. The juror is then questioned about their opinions on the death penalty. The juror does not believe that the death penalty should be applied in all murder cases.
12:34 pm: Wood moves to strike the juror based on bias, Prior agrees and Judge Boyce dismisses the juror.
12:29 pm: The juror indicated on the questionnaire that their opinion could be impacted by the fact that children were victims in this case. The juror emphasized that they do not know how someone could hear about the case and not have formed some kind of opinion on it, though they say they would be unable to make a final judgment at this time. The juror did say that they are "leaning towards guilt."
12:27 pm: The next juror is brought in and questioned about their knowledge of the case. Their questionnaire indicates that they have knowledge of the case from news reports.
12:26 pm: With no opposition, the juror moves forward as the 28th in the juror pool.
12:22 pm: The juror indicates that they feel neutral about the death penalty and that they do not believe it is applicable in all murder cases.
12:18 pm: The next juror is questioned about their responses regarding media exposure, indicating that they have seen news reports on the trial.
12:17 pm: The 27th Juror is advanced by Judge Boyce after a sidebar where Wixom noted that some issues with the questionnaire had been overlooked.
12:04 pm: After brief questioning about the death penalty the juror is advanced by Judge Boyce. The pool now sits at 26 advanced potential jurors of the needed 50.
11:56 am: The next juror indicates that they are aware of Lori Vallow's conviction, but that they believe they would not hold it against Daybell during the trial, reaffirming that they have not developed an opinion on his guilt at this time.
11:54 am: Another juror quickly progresses through voir dire, with no questions from either side regarding the death penalty. Now, half of the pool of 50 jurors have been selected.
11:50 am: The next juror advances as well following death penalty discussion where they explained that they oppose the death penalty personally, but that if the law dictates the punishment they would be able to impose it. This makes 24 of the 50 potential jurors needed for the pool.
11:34 am: The juror is advanced with no objections, along with the next two jurors, bringing the total advanced juror pool up to 23 of the 50 needed.
11:09 am: Judge Boyce asks the juror about their questionnaire answers regarding the death penalty, asking the juror if they believe that they would always be in favor of the death penalty in a murder case. The juror says they would not.
11:05 am: The first juror questioned appears to be the juror who was missing from yesterday's group. Judge Boyce asks about the absence which was caused by a problem with a phone alarm according to the juror.
11:01 am: Prosecutors ask for a sidebar with the judge. White noise is played in the courtroom while they discuss.
11:00 am: Jury selection resumes with the individual voir dire following a morning recess.
10:36 am: Prior ends his questioning by thanking the jury pool. The court is now in recess for 20 minutes before beginning individual voir dire.
10:31 am: Prior discusses the graphic photos that the jury is expected to encounter during the trial, warning that "they're going to hurt your heart". Prior asks if the jurors if, because the photos are disturbing, they will feel that Daybell is guilty. The jurors all respond that they will not.
10:18 am: Prior asks the group if they understand the importance of not allowing someone's beliefs to impact how they judge them, the group of jurors all say yes.
10:14 am: Prior asks if the potential jurors understand that Daybell does not need to take the stand just as the defense does not need to present any evidence or witnesses, they indicate that they do understand this.
10:12 am: Prior begins his questioning by asking the group if they immediately thought Chad was guilty upon hearing the charges, and the jurors reply that they did not.
10:01 am: Blake brings up the term "brutal honesty," as she has to every group of potential jurors. She explains that the court wants to ensure the jurors can commit to being impartial over the course of the trial.
9:55 am: Prosecuting attorney Lindsey Blake now conducts group voir dire on behalf of the state, questioning the group of potential jurors and explaining what their role will be in the trial.
9:51 am: Additional jurors are excused by Judge Boyce for reasons ranging from medical issues to financial constraints. Now, just 11 potential jurors remain. Judge Boyce asks if any of the jurors have seen any information about the case, but none of the jurors indicate that they have. This is the first group of potential jurors with no members who know about the case already.
9:37 am: The next two jurors mention school and work conflicts with the trial, and both the defense and prosecution agree to ask for their dismissal which Judge Boyce grants in both cases.
9:33 am: A second juror mentions their work constraints as a potential hardship. John Prior, Daybell's attorney, asks to have the juror excused which Judge Boyce grants.
9:29 am: A first juror mentions work schedule conflicts and the prosecution motions to dismiss them, which Judge Boyce grants.
9:28 am: Judge Boyce reads the instructions to the potential jurors and asks if the case will cause hardship.
9:20 am: Judge Steven Boyce reviews the charges with the jury, including 3 counts of first-degree murder and 3 counts of conspiracy to commit murder, as well as grand theft and insurance fraud.
9:12 am: The 17 potential jurors in the first group for day 3 of the selection process have taken their seats. Groups usually total 16 jurors, this group likely includes a juror who was absent yesterday.
