Maketa trial: 22 potential jurors already decided ex-sheriff was guilty

Twenty-two potential jurors said they had made up their minds: Ex-El Paso County Sheriff Terry Maketa is guilty.

All were thanked for their service and sent on their way.

Roughly one-third of the 90 people called for jury selection Tuesday were dismissed on the opening day of Maketa's long-awaited trial on corruption charges, including those who said in pre-trial surveys that they couldn't be neutral.

Opening statements will be heard in 4th Judicial District Court once the field is narrowed to a panel of 12 jurors plus two alternates, a process that could take all day Wednesday or longer. Prospective jurors' impressions of Maketa and media coverage of the case against him dominated the questioning.

Read more: http://gazette.com/maketa-trial-22-potential-jurors-had-already-decided-ex-sheriff-was-guilty/article/1606022