Jury selection, which began Thursday, in the Brian Nichols murder trial took this weekend off, though Judge James Bodiford has promised Saturday court sessions.

Hundreds of prospective jurors are being called in groups to the Fulton County Courthouse for individual questioning. Attorneys got to all but one summoned for the first week. Bodiford said he would not ask the county to pay to open the courthouse on a weekend to question one prospective juror.

Out of 15 prospective jurors called Thursday and Friday, six remain in the pool that must have 100 men and women before attorneys pull the 12 jurors and six alternates.

Bodiford said repeatedly during the first two days of jury selection he did not think jury selection will take as long as some have estimated — two months. Bodiford's goal is to have the case over by the end of the year.

The six-day week of jury selection resumes Monday. Nichols has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity in the murders a judge, a court reporter and a deputy at the Fulton County Courthouse on March 11, 2005, and a federal agent at his home later that day.

— Rhonda Cook, rcook@ajc.com