Judge Melville Allows Reporters to Review Jurors’ Questionnaires

Judge Melville agreed to a request by news organizations to allow reporters to review the questionnaires filled out by the 250 members of the selected jury pool. These questionnaires will be published this week.

Defense attorneys have objected to the publication of these questionnaires. Robert Sanger said that if the judge needs to use more people to select jury members from among them, then more people will fill out these questionnaires—and since they know the questionnaires will be published, they might answer in a way that seems honest.

Judge Melville will not disclose the names of the potential jurors. Judge Melville agreed with Robert Sanger’s request—for the defense attorney—to remove the names written on the questionnaires, as well as other personal information.

The district attorney’s office has stated that it has no objection to the publication of these questionnaires.

Source: Santa Maria Times