A final jury will be chosen Friday in the retrial of DeKalb County CEO Burrell Ellis after each side whittled down the number of eligible jurors.
Forty-three potential jurors remained out of 120 people who reported for jury duty in the Ellis case this week.
Prosecutors and defense attorneys will strike jurors Friday until they arrive at a jury of 12 plus alternates. Opening statements are scheduled for Tuesday.
Ellis is on trial for a second time to fight allegations that he illegally pressured county contractors into giving him campaign contributions.
A lawyer for Ellis had asked Superior Court Judge Courtney Johnson today to disqualify four potential jurors who have shown biases against him, but Johnson rejected the request because those jurors said they could be fair.
“The question is whether that person can set aside that belief or opinion and be fair and impartial,” Johnson said in court.
Ellis has pleaded not guilty to nine counts including bribery, attempt to commit theft by extortion and perjury.
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