First Juror In Cosby's Sexual Assault Retrial Seated
NORRISTOWN, Pa. (CBS/AP) -- The first juror in Bill Cosby's sexual assault retrial was seated on Monday.
The juror indicated he had no knowledge of the case and wouldn't let what he's heard about the #MeToo movement influence his ability to be impartial.
Cosby returned to the Montgomery County courthouse earlier in the day for jury selection. His new defense team is fighting the same charges of aggravated indecent assault.
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Los Angeles-based attorney Tom Mesereau is representing the 80-year-old for this retrial after a hung jury 10 months ago led to a mistrial.
The last jury was selected from the Pittsburgh area, but on Monday morning, 126 potential jurors from Montgomery County were summoned to the courtroom.
"Last year, they put a lot of restrictions on Allegheny County and we hope it's different this year," said Cosby spokesman Andrew Wyatt.
Judge Steven O'Neill spent much of the morning reviewing a questionnaire the potential jurors filled out, which is meant to help determine if they can provide a fair and impartial look at the evidence in this case.
The vast majority – 110 potential jurors – heard about the previous case and the allegations Cosby drugged and sexually assaulted former Temple assistant basketball coach Andrea Constand at his Cheltenham home in 2004.
Of the 126 potential jurors, 119 are familiar with the "Me Too" movement and allegations of sexual assault in the entertainment industry, 68 say they've already formed opinions of guilt or innocence, and 16 admitted they cannot be fair or impartial.
In the afternoon, O'Neill, the defense counsel and the prosecution questioned potential jurors one-on-one about their responses.
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The defense and prosecution can strike seven jurors without cause. So far, each side has used just one of those strikes.
Jury selection resumes on Tuesday morning.
(© Copyright 2018 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)