Politics
Politics

Trial of DeKalb CEO Ellis moves ahead with jury selection

First day of jury selection in Ellis corruption trial
By Mark Niesse
Sept 9, 2014

Jury selection in the trial of suspended DeKalb County CEO Burrell Ellis continued Tuesday, with the second batch of 40 potential jurors being questioned by each side.

DeKalb County District Attorney Robert James asked potential jurors whether they believe it’s inappropriate for public officials to benefit personally from their government jobs.

James and Ellis’ defense team also questioned those serving jury duty about medical or other hardships that would prevent them from being named to the jury for a weekslong trial.

There are about 200 people in the jury pool, which will be whittled down to 12 jurors who will decide Ellis’ case.

Ellis has pleaded not guilty to allegations that he threatened county contractors for campaign contributions.

About the Author

Mark Niesse is an enterprise reporter and covers elections and Georgia government for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution and is considered an expert on elections and voting. Before joining the AJC, he worked for The Associated Press in Atlanta, Honolulu and Montgomery, Alabama. He also reported for The Daily Report and The Santiago Times in Chile.

Follow Mark Niesse on twitter
More Stories

Keep Reading

Prosecuting Attorneys’ Council of Georgia Executive Director Peter J. Skandalakis speaks during a press conference Tuesday, Aug. 23, 2022. He appointed himself to take over the election interference case after he couldn’t find another district attorney willing to do so. (Natrice Miller/AJC)

Credit: Natrice Miller/AJC

Prosecutor reviewing Georgia Trump case faces ‘tangled spider web’ of issues

The veteran Georgia prosecutor who must decide what to do with Fulton County's election interference case has inherited a legal and political hot potato.

OPINION

Epstein vote was easy; health insurance changes are not

Republicans in Washington still have no plan to deal with expiring health insurance subsidies.

OPINION

Marjorie Taylor Greene or Trump: Who gets MAGA in the divorce?

U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene’s battles with the president test her base at home in Georgia's 14th Congressional District.

The Latest

House Democrats want an extension of expiring health care subsidies. (J. Scott Applewhite/AP)

Credit: AP

OPINION

Epstein vote was easy; health insurance changes are not

Prosecutor reviewing Georgia Trump case faces ‘tangled spider web’ of issues

OPINION

Marjorie Taylor Greene or Trump: Who gets MAGA in the divorce?

Featured

Lt. Gov. Burt Jones — pictured at an August rally in Peachtree City that also featured Vice President JD Vance — appears to have scored another legal victory over gubernatorial rival Attorney General Chris Carr in their battle over campaign finance issues. (Arvin Temkar/AJC 2025)

Credit: Arvin Temkar / AJC

Lt. Gov. Burt Jones scores another victory over use of campaign cash

Lt. Gov. Burt Jones appears to have scored another victory over Attorney General Chris Carr as the Republican gubernatorial candidates battle over campaign finance issues.

Falcons QB Michael Penix Jr.’s season is over; needs surgery to repair ACL

Michael Penix Jr., whom the Falcons hoped was their quarterback of the future, will undergo season-ending surgery to repair a partially torn ACL in his left knee.

Typewriter Tom fuels a growing interest in analog writing devices

Roswell's Tom Rehkopf owns about 1,000 typewriters, which he tinkers with at his workshop and happily shares with fellow aficionados, curious youngsters and even Tom Hanks.