R. Kelly Jury Selection on Track

Jury selection continues in R. Kelly's child pornography trial, with 150 potential jurors set for questioning

By Gina Serpe May 12, 2008 2:55 PMTags
R. KellyAP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast

Jury selection in R. Kelly's child pornography case is continuing in Chicago today, with attorneys for both sides expected to question roughly 150 potential jurors.

The prosecution and defense teams will question the Chi-town residents, who filled out a questionnaire on Friday, over their level of familiarity with the case, and determine whether they've been trapped under a rock—or, for poetic justice's sake, in a closet—for the past six years.

The first group of 10 has reported to the courthouse this morning for querying, while a second group of 10 will come this afternoon. Both sides estimate it should take roughly one week to winnow down 12 jurors and four alternates.

The 41-year-old R&B star faces child-pornography charges stemming from a videotape in which he allegedly engaged in sex acts with a girl who may have been as young as 13. The girl has denied the allegations and Kelly has pleaded not guilty.