Reporters warned not to talk to potential jurors in murder trial

By The Associated Press

06.11.02

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ALBANY, Ga. — Jury selection began yesterday in the murder trial of former DeKalb County Sheriff Sidney Dorsey, almost a week after the judge warned reporters not to talk to potential jurors in the high-profile case.

Superior Court Judge Cynthia J. Becker on June 5 set rules for media coverage of the trial. She threatened to jail reporters who try to talk to potential jurors and asked them not to identify jurors until after the trial. She also said anyone causing courtroom disruptions would be ejected and barred from the trial.

Becker met for about an hour with 20 reporters and photographers at the Dougherty County Courthouse in Albany. Noting that she has an obligation to protect Dorsey's right to a fair trial, the judge vowed, ''By heaven above, it is going to be fair.''

Becker also said a gag order barring Dorsey, defense attorneys, prosecutors, family members, investigators and others from commenting on the case outside of court remains in effect. She imposed the order in March in DeKalb County.

Dorsey is charged with 16 counts that accuse him of racketeering and ordering the murder of sheriff-elect Derwin Brown, who was gunned down in his driveway Dec. 15, 2000, three days before he was to take office.

Brown had beaten Dorsey in a hotly contested election months earlier and had vowed to clean up corruption in the sheriff's department.

Dorsey has denied any involvement in Brown's murder, and prosecutors have built their case almost solely on the testimony of former Dorsey associates Paul Skyers and Patrick Cuffy, who were given immunity in exchange for their testimony.

A group of 400 prospective jurors has been summoned to hear Dorsey's trial, which Becker moved to Albany because of heavy pretrial publicity in the Atlanta area. Since yesterday, lawyers have chosen ten prospective jurors for a preliminary pool.

Jury selection is expected to take about a week. The trial could last five or six weeks.

Previous

News outlets challenge gag order in Georgia sheriff's murder
Judge says comments from those involved in case could jeopardize fair trial for former DeKalb County Sheriff Sidney Dorsey, accused in slaying of Sheriff-elect Derwin Brown.  03.29.02

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