This morning, Jason Anthony Warren sat stoically in a courtroom filled will prospective jurors, a dozen of whom will decide his fate as he faces charges of double homicide, with special allegations of torture and lying in wait.

The morning’s proceedings were delayed when several prospective jurors failed to show up on time, but by 9:45 a.m. the jury box was full, as was every seat in the courtroom. Judge Timothy Cissna apologized for the delays, not just today but in the lead-up to this voir dire portion of the trial, and then had then all stand, raise their right hands and agree to answer all questions posed to them. 

Warren stands accused of the 2012 murder of Hoopa woman Dorothy Ulrich and subsequently running down three women joggers and a dog, killing both the dog and Humboldt State University lecturer Suzanne Seemann. 

Judge Cissna warned the group that there will be “graphic, disturbing evidence” in the case including photos of the deceased, plus images of wounds and blood. “And there maybe be audiotape of one incident,” the judge said. He asked if anyone present would be unable to look at or consider such evidence.

One woman, who appeared to be in her late 20s, spoke up, saying such evidence “would affect me greatly.” She noted that since this is “real life, not TV,” she would find it very disturbing. However, after further questioning from Cissna, the young woman said she would be able to look at such evidence.

Cissna had Warren stand up and identified him as the defendant in the case. “Do any of you know or recognize him,” the judge asked. No one spoke.

Warren’s defense attorney, Glenn Brown, and prosecutor Paul Sequeira stood and introduced themselves. One potential juror said he’s seen Mr. Brown around the courthouse but promised that wouldn’t affect his consideration of the facts in the case.

Cissna asked those in the jury box about potential biases including relationships with possible witnesses in the case. One potential juror, for example, had taken courses in administration of justice at College of the Redwoods and said she has social contact with several law enforcement professionals who may be called to testify. 

The woman was also questioned by Cissna about an answer she’d given on the juror questionnaire, saying that there were “a lot of charges” against Warren and that he was “probably guilty.”

The woman backed away from that position this morning, saying she would want to see the evidence in the case and would base her decision on that evidence alone.

Cissna asked her if there was any reason she couldn’t be “equally fair and impartial to both sides in the case,” and she said she could.

Several other potential jurors admitted to knowing some people on the list of possible witnesses, and like the first woman they all said it wouldn’t impede their ability to be impartial.

Before long these Q-and-As took on a predictable pattern, and several of those not seated in the jury box settled in for the long haul. (Pretty sure the guy behind me was sleeping.)

After questioning roughly half of the 12 jurors seated in the box, Cissna released everyone for a morning break. When he finishes his questioning, the attorneys in the case will take their own turns interrogating them. The case resumes at 1:30 p.m. and is scheduled to run Mondays through Thursdays for the next several weeks.

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