Jury selection in the trial of accused Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev has taken longer than the judge had expected. For several weeks, prospective jurors have each taken a turn in the hot seat, being questioned by U.S. District Judge George A. O'Toole and attorneys for the prosecution and defense, as Tsarnaev, second from right in this court sketch, listened. But this case isn't the longest jury selection ever, by far. Although no one appears to keep official records on such matters, several infamous cases over the years have taken months to pick a jury, and longtime jury consultant Jo-Ellan Dimitrius recalls one jury selection that took the better part of a year. Click through the gallery to learn more:
Jury selection in the trial of accused Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev has taken longer than the judge had expected. For several weeks, prospective jurors have each taken a turn in the hot seat, being questioned by U.S. District Judge George A. O'Toole and attorneys for the prosecution and defense, as Tsarnaev, second from right in this court sketch, listened. But this case isn't the longest jury selection ever, by far. Although no one appears to keep official records on such matters, several infamous cases over the years have taken months to pick a jury, and longtime jury consultant Jo-Ellan Dimitrius recalls one jury selection that took the better part of a year. Click through the gallery to learn more:
Sketch by Art Lien
Dimitrius helped pick the jury that eventually acquitted O.J. Simpson of murder charges in 1995. Simpson didn't face the death penalty, and it took about three months to pick a jury in his Los Angeles trial.
Dimitrius helped pick the jury that eventually acquitted O.J. Simpson of murder charges in 1995. Simpson didn't face the death penalty, and it took about three months to pick a jury in his Los Angeles trial.
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It took only 10 days to select a jury in the 2011 murder trial of Casey Anthony despite public sentiment against her. Anthony was accused of killing her 2-year-old daughter, Caylee, but the jury acquitted her of first-degree murder and the other most serious charges against her.
It took only 10 days to select a jury in the 2011 murder trial of Casey Anthony despite public sentiment against her. Anthony was accused of killing her 2-year-old daughter, Caylee, but the jury acquitted her of first-degree murder and the other most serious charges against her.
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The jury that heard the 2013 case against George Zimmerman, center, was picked in a day. The six-woman panel acquitted the Florida night watchman of charges he intentionally killed Florida teenager Trayvon Martin.
The jury that heard the 2013 case against George Zimmerman, center, was picked in a day. The six-woman panel acquitted the Florida night watchman of charges he intentionally killed Florida teenager Trayvon Martin.
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It took about four months to seat a jury to hear the 2004 case against Scott Peterson, right, accused of murdering his wife and unborn son. Peterson was represented by prominent Los Angeles defense attorney Mark Geragos, left. Peterson was convicted and sentenced to death.
It took about four months to seat a jury to hear the 2004 case against Scott Peterson, right, accused of murdering his wife and unborn son. Peterson was represented by prominent Los Angeles defense attorney Mark Geragos, left. Peterson was convicted and sentenced to death.
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It took 47 days to empanel a jury in Connecticut to hear one of the most horrific death penalty cases in recent memory, the so-called Cheshire murders. Two ex-cons, Steven Hayes, left, and Joshua Komisarjevsky, were convicted and sentenced to death for the 2007 home invasion murders of the wife and daughters of a prominent endocrinologist.
It took 47 days to empanel a jury in Connecticut to hear one of the most horrific death penalty cases in recent memory, the so-called Cheshire murders. Two ex-cons, Steven Hayes, left, and Joshua Komisarjevsky, were convicted and sentenced to death for the 2007 home invasion murders of the wife and daughters of a prominent endocrinologist.
Connecticut State Police/AP
Consultant Dimitrius says the longest jury selection might belong to the trial of Richard Ramirez, known as "the Night Stalker." It took nine months to seat a jury in the capital murder case against Ramirez. His spree of serial murders, rapes and home invasions terrified Los Angeles and San Francisco in the mid-1980s. He received 13 death sentences but died of cancer in prison. In this 1985 courtoom photo, Ramirez displays a pentagram symbol on his hand.
Consultant Dimitrius says the longest jury selection might belong to the trial of Richard Ramirez, known as "the Night Stalker." It took nine months to seat a jury in the capital murder case against Ramirez. His spree of serial murders, rapes and home invasions terrified Los Angeles and San Francisco in the mid-1980s. He received 13 death sentences but died of cancer in prison. In this 1985 courtoom photo, Ramirez displays a pentagram symbol on his hand.
Lennox McLendon/AP/File