Barry Bonds' Trial Now Officially on Deck

The judge gives a yes and a no to legal inquiries.

The federal perjury trial of former Giants slugger Barry Bonds is scheduled to begin next Monday, March 21 with jury selection.

Exactly one week ahead of that U.S. District Court Judge Susan Illston granted the media access to detailed questionnaires that those prospective jurors fill out before the trial begins.

Read ruling at this pdf.
       
The questions will help lawyers on both sides of the case seat a jury. Although she said she would release the form, it has not been posted yet but should be at some point at this link.
       
Judge Illston said yes to that request, but she said no to a request to release the jurors' names. Those will not be made public until after the trial is complete.

Illston said in her ruling she was concerned the media and public will attempt to interact with jurors if their names are disclosed, adding any such communication could cause a mistrial.
       
Once the jury is set, the trial is expected to last at least two weeks.
       
Bonds is not on trial for allegedly using steroids. Instead he's accused of lying to a grand jury in 2003 when he said he never knowingly took performance-enhancing drugs.
 

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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