FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Jury selection in the penalty phase of the Parkland mass shooting case was postponed for another week Monday after the lead defense attorney was unable to come to court.
Attorneys and Broward Circuit Judge Elizabeth Scherer were able to conduct one item on their agenda Monday — the screening of the 11th juror who had previously been dismissed after saying he could not follow the law on the case. Lawyers on both sides wanted the opportunity to question him further.
It turns out they won’t get the opportunity. The juror told Scherer that serving on the case from mid-June through September would be a financial hardship.
The second phase of jury selection is on tap for the closely watched trial. More than 400 potential jurors who do have time to serve will be questioned on their knowledge of the case and their attitudes toward the death penalty. Scherer wants to find 20 jurors before the case moves forward.
The reason for defense lawyer Melisa McNeill’s absence was discussed between lawyers and the judge, obscured from public observation, which is typical when health privacy issues are being addressed.
Confessed gunman Nikolas Cruz was in court Monday, as was the rest of the defense and the entire prosecution team.
Rafael Olmeda can be reached at rolmeda@sunsentinel.com , 954-356-4457 or on Twitter @rolmeda
