BRUNSWICK —More than half of the 36 jurors questioned by the judge Monday in the Justin Ross Harris murder trial said they have formed opinions as to whether he intentionally left his 22-month-old son inside a hot car to die.
Four months ago, following three weeks of jury selection, Superior Court Judge Mary Staley Clark determined Harris could not receive a fair trial in Cobb County and granted a change of venue. Harris, 35, is accused of intentionally leaving his son inside a hot car to die.
The trial was subsequently moved to Glynn County in Brunswick, where there’s been considerably less media coverage of the Harris case. Still, of the 36 jurors asked on Monday, 27 said they were familiar with the case.
Attorneys for both sides will begin questioning jurors on Tuesday. The defense contends it was an accident. Prosecutors say the former Home Depot web developer acted with malicious intent, charging Harris with eight felonies, including three murder counts.
Two weeks have been set aside to pick a jury. A recess is scheduled for the last week of September, with opening statements slated to begin Oct. 3.
Earlier Monday, 35 Glynn residents sought dismissal from the jury pool with excuses ranging from a long-planned vacation to Dollywood to a bout of vertigo,
Not all the requests were granted. One man, whose pregnant wife was about to be put into induced labor, was instructed to report at a later date. A doctor who works at the Veterans Administration hospital in Jacksonville, who told Staley Clark prolonged absences were “a challenge,” was also denied hardship.
Harris is the subject of the second season of the AJC's podcast series "Breakdown," which will follow the trial's developments.
For more complete coverage of the Harris trial, visit myajc.com.
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