Jury in Jackson Case Probed on Bias Issues

Prospective jurors in the case against Michael Jackson are being screened with a questionnaire which asks if they've ever had cancer, about their opinion on people of different races, and even about whether they followed the 1993 molestation allegations against the entertainer. Source: Associated Press/Santa Barbara Designed to screen for and eliminate jurors who may have strong feelings that could hinder them from being fair and impartial in the case, the questions were among several in a scaled-down questionnaire released to the public on Wednesday. Jurors were told by note that the questionnaire was designed on their behalf to prevent embarrassment from speaking on personal issues in open court. Jurors completed the questionnaire on Monday and Tuesday, and attorneys on both sides are scheduled to begin quizzing the approximately 250 prospects this coming Monday. Lawyers will attempt to detect among those willing to serve who may have hidden agendas. Of the 41 questions asked, roughly half focus on biographical data: age, education and occupation. Other questions in the questionnaire included religious beliefs, medical issues, if they had ever experienced or been accused of inappropriate sexual behavior, if they had ever advocated for abused children, if they had ever visited Jackson's Neverland Valley Ranch, and how closely they may have been following the case. Several specific issues likely to be key at trial were grazed over, such as if jurors or their families had ever been involved in making any claim for monetary damages. Jackson's attorneys are expected to paint the accusing family as using this case for financial gain. The defense is likely to cite the family's past alleged scams for money, and their suit against and eventual settlement with JCPenney. Because prosecutors intend to use past allegations in an attempt to establish a theorized pattern of abuse, jurors were asked about what they knew of the 1993 accusations against Jackson. Although the questionnaire touched upon a number of issues, Loyola School of Law professor Laurie Levenson believes that it did not delve enough into the type of detailed information that would help lawyers eliminate jurors they believed were sympathetic to the opposing side. "This is the most bare-bones questionnaire I've ever seen," Levenson said. "It's very superficial. The judge obviously did not want a sociology study, but this will make it more difficult for the defense to find the kind of jurors they want." Prosecution and defense attorneys submitted a longer questionnaire, which had been "gutted" by Judge Rodney Melville, who said he preferred that most questions be asked in open court. On Monday, the judge is to hear arguments from a media attorney about unsealing the completed jury questionnaires, which are considered public documents.