The Brian Nichols murder trial will begin Monday, September, 22, with opening statements, Superior Court Judge James Bodiford said in an order issued Friday morning during the 24th day of jury pool selection in the case.

Bodiford said he expects the selection of 90 jurors for the pool to be completed on or before Thursday, August 28.

• Fulton to pay $5.2 million to widow of slain judge 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

Out of that pool defense and prosecution attorneys will select 12 jurors and 6 alternates to determine Nichols fate for the March 11, 2005 killings of Superior Court Judge Rowland Barnes, and three others. He has entered a plea of not guilty by reason of insanity.

Bodiford, in his order, said he would begin hearing pre-trial motions in the case Sept. 2. According to the order, attorneys for both sides predicted the trial would be over "before the Christmas and other religious holidays in December."

Through Friday morning, 63 jurors had been added to the jury pool.