DETROIT (WWJ) – Attorneys in the Kwame Kilpatrick federal corruption trial are hoping to thin the pool of potential jurors Friday.

 

Although the length of time it may take to hear the federal corruption case of former Detroit mayor Kwame Kilpatrick is raising concerns amongst some of the potential jurors.

 

Eric Koseba, a commercial attorney, sat in for part of the jury selection on day one and spoke with WWJ’s City Beat Reporter Vickie Thomas.

 

“Four months is a lot of time … I’ve been in trials where you get one month and the jurors are generally able to cope with that – but it just depends – I can see a lot of jurors just saying “I can’t be gone for that kind of time,” even if it is a half day – from 9-1 (pm), said Kosaba. “I know someday maybe my name will be called and I’ll have to face that kind of thing, I know I would be squirming in my chair, if that were me.”

 

Some of the questions potential jurors faced dealt with their opinion of Kilpatrick, media exposure, race relations and whether or not they believe minority contractors get a fair opportunity — two black women were dismissed for cause,  one candidly admitted she didn’t want to be in court to sit in judgement.

 

Eric Brown is a local blogger following the case: “She made it clear, “I’m not God, I’m not here to judge anyone,” and for that reason she was dismissed.”

 

Another woman was dismissed because she said she could not afford to miss work – they were the only potential jurors questioned on day one.