Jury Selection in Bulger Case to Continue Next Week

Update, 1:10 p.m., Wedensday: According to WBUR, Judge Casper has added another 100 potential jurors to the pool. The radio station reported Casper hopes opening statements in the trial will happen on June 12.

ORIGINAL STORY

U.S. District Court Judge Denise J. Casper, along with federal prosecutors and defense lawyers for James "Whitey" Bulger, continued to screen potential jurors Wednesday for a trial that is expected to last into September, according to media reports.

Casper and the attorneys have been reviewing a pool of 675 potential jurors in three batches of 225, according to Boston.com. They aim to narrow the pool down to 18 jurors—12 to sit on the jury, 6 alternates.

The news website says Casper and lawyers were scheduled to finish up their preliminary review of the third and final batch of potential jurors Wednesday. Each prospective juror has filled out a 13-page questionnaire.

Some of those potential jurors will be called back to the courthouse on Thursday, Friday and Monday, where they will face additional questioning from Casper and the attorneys, according to BostonHerald.com.

The trial will begin sometime "next week," according to the Herald. Although opening statements in the trial were originally scheduled to begin Monday, June 10, the Herald reported Wednesday the trial won't start on Monday.

The Herald says those in the third pool of prospective jurors should call a recorded hotline Friday after 6 p.m. to find out if they've been called back to the courthouse for further questioning on Monday.

WBUR, a radio station, broadcasting Wednesday morning, said one of the potential jurors was seen to mouth an expletive when he learned he could be on the jury.

More on James "Whitey" Bulger.