Murray trial needs more jurors said the judge

Judge Michael Pastor told attorneys yesterday that he wants more potential jurors summoned to the downtown courthouse for the trial of Murray.

After a meeting in his chambers with attorneys, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Michael E. Pastor said he had concluded that they “simply do not have a sufficient number of pre-screened, hardship-qualified jurors” in the pool of those who could hear the case against Murray.

The judge said more prospective jurors would need to be called in on April 7 to determine if it would be a financial hardship to serve on the case, which is expected to begin in earnest in early May and end by July 1.

The pool of potential jurors currently includes 147 people who were asked — in a process that started Thursday — to fill out extensive questionnaires detailing what they have heard about the case.

They were instructed to return to court on May 4, when attorneys from both sides will begin questioning them.

Opening statements are scheduled for May 9.

Nearly 200 other prospective panelists were released to serve on shorter trials.