BOISE, Idaho — After 4 days of jury selection, the pool of potential jurors exceeded the needed 50, totaling at 52. Today, jury selection continues before the defense and prosecution will use strikes to pare the pool down to 18, 12 jurors and 6 alternates.
RECAP: Chad Daybell Jury Selection Day 4
12:42 pm: Court is dismissed for the day with 57 jurors now advanced by Judge Boyce. Court is set to be back in session for peremptory challenges on Monday at 10 am.
12:32 pm: Judge Boyce releases the group of jurors and calls for a sidebar with the attorneys.
12:31 pm: Now, the group of jurors advanced totals 57. Initially, just 50 potential jurors were needed to continue the trial process.
12:30 pm: The group of 5 approved jurors is passed for cause by Judge Boyce following the break.
11:54 am: The livestream is paused for private matters to be discussed with the Judge.
11:53 am: The juror is advanced by Judge Boyce. Another juror quickly follows as the 55th and 56th jurors.
11:35 am: Prior explains that he is hesitating with the juror because he believes that the juror and their spouse are so close that they likely have a significant effect on one another's opinions.
11:32 am: Rob Wood, an attorney with the State, begins questioning on the next juror in the courtroom. Wood asks the juror about media consumption relating to the trial. The juror indicates that they believe Daybell is innocent until proven guilty, but that their spouse has formed an opinion on the case. The juror believes this would not impact his opinion of Daybell during the trial.
11:31 am: Judge Boyce excuses a juror who viewed several documentaries on the case and indicated that they believe Daybell is guilty.
11:28 am: The juror is advanced by Judge Boyce as the 54th approved potential juror.
11:23 am: The courtroom is back in session following the brief recess. The voir dire process continues with the juror who was in the courtroom ahead of the break.
10:44 am: Court is in recess following the sidebar. Questioning will continue with the juror following the break.
10:42 am: The next juror enters the courtroom. Prior questions her about reporting from Idaho News 6 relating to the case before Wixom, an attorney with the State, calls for a sidebar.
10:40 am: The next juror passes as the 53rd potential juror following questioning about media consumption relating to the trial.
10:35 am: The juror is dismissed by Judge Boyce following the questioning from Prior.
10:25 am: The next juror disagrees with the death penalty. The State moves to have the juror dismissed. Prior questions the juror.
10:19 am: The first juror is excused during individual voir dire after their questionnaire reveals that they currently live in Canyon County, not Ada County.
10:14 am: Prior asks if the jurors agree that the photos being shown from the case are used to sensationalize. Two jurors disagree, stating that they are evidence. Prior responds by explaining that the pictures do not mean that Daybell is guilty.
10:07 am: Blake finishes her questions to the group and Daybell's attorney John Prior begins questioning the group. Prior asks the group if they understand that Daybell does not need to prove his innocence, instead the state needs to prove his guilt.
9:48 am: Prosecuting attorney Lindsey Blake addresses the group first, urging jurors to be brutally honest.
9:41 am: Another juror is dismissed before the Judges and attorneys hold a sidebar. This brief discussion will lead into the voir dire process where the group of jurors will be questioned.
9:31 am: Judge Boyce dismisses another juror with work scheduling conflicts.
9:27 am: Another juror is dismissed for work conflicts after indicating that they just began a new job.
9:24 am: After the 14 potential jurors are introduced to their responsibilities during the trial by Judge Boyce, a first juror is dismissed for work conflicts. Judge Boyce says he is frustrated with the juror's employer for not accommodating the civic duty.
9:03 am: Peremptory strikes won't happen yet as this new group of jurors will be questioned this morning.
8:47 am: Back in the courtroom, 52 jurors of the 50 needed are expected to be in session today.
