SALEM, Ore. (AP) – Three weeks after blanket acquittals for seven defendants in the occupation of a federal wildlife refuge in Oregon, defense attorneys for a second set of defendants and federal prosecutors are at odds over when to summon a pool of jurors for the second trial.
Defense attorneys want a pool of 2,000 jurors to be summoned as soon as possible, but federal prosecutors on Wednesday sought a delay.
In a joint status report to a federal judge, attorneys on both sides agreed to file pretrial motions by Dec. 16 and having arguments over the motions take place the week of Jan. 16. The trial is scheduled to start in federal court in Portland on Feb. 14.
Defense attorney Jesse Merrithew has argued that the acquittals of seven other defendants last month on the same conspiracy charge will make it more difficult to seat an impartial jury.
“We’re requesting more jurors be summoned this time because it will be more difficult to find jurors that have not heard of the case and come to some conclusion about what happened,” Merrithew said.