Jury selection resumed Tuesday afternoon in the Brian Nichols' murder trial after being stopped briefly so the defendant could be examined by a doctor.

The normally robust Nichols looked listless in the Fulton County courtroom. His lead attorney, Henderson Hill, reported that his client was nauseated. Superior Court Judge James Bodiford called a recess and had a doctor brought to the courthouse.

PHOTOS • A look at the case 2005-present • Penalty phase | Verdict • Weeks in court: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 • Interactive graphic: The 2005 shootings • Video: Nichols' confession MORE STORIES 4 years after attacks, courthouse lacks security plan  Gwinnett won't prosecute Nichols for kidnapping  Feds won't seek death penalty for Nichols  In prison, cellphone is coveted contraband  Police reveal little about Nichols manhunt errors  Nichols trial holdouts: 'Show me something'  Nichols says he was at war with U.S. government in taped confession AJC's full trial coverage RELATED LINKS Atlanta news Georgia and metro news

The judge kept a tight lid on information regarding Nichols' medical condition and on the reason a Monday night news conference regarding Nichols was canceled at the DeKalb County Jail where Nichols is incarcerated.

Just before noon, the doctor reported he had given Nichols something for his nausea and would conduct blood tests to determine if the murder defendant had taken too much Tylenol.

Bodiford threatened to conduct evening jury selection during the day and night if Nichols' illness substantially delayed the questioning of potential jurors for the death penalty trial. By law, Nichols has the right to be present when his jury is selected.

Hill said Nichols felt that he could continue Tuesday afternoon.

A doctor was called to the courthouse to examine Nichols. In a telephone interview, DeKalb County Sheriff Thomas Brown declined to say why he called a news conference regarding an issue with Nichols at the jail Monday.

"I called a press conference but then I had a conversation with the judge who reminded me of the gag order," Brown said, referring to the court order barring Fulton authorities and Nichols lawyers from discussing the case in the press. "Of course I'm not under the gag order but the judge asked me if I needed one and I said no."

Asked why Nichols appeared so listless in court Tuesday, Brown laughed: "He probably had a sleepless night."