Jury Selection Continues in Robinson Trial, by David Yonke, Toledo Blade, April 19, 2006

Jury Selection Continues in Robinson Trial

By David Yonke
Toledo Blade
April 19, 2006

http://toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060419/NEWS02/304190012

Another prospective juror was dismissed this morning from the murder trial of the Rev. Gerald Robinson because of her strong feelings against the Roman Catholic Church and its clergy.

Bias for or against Catholicism was cited in 4 of the 34 dismissals over the past three days. During that time, a total of 94 people have been interviewed, with the final interview scheduled for this afternoon.

The majority of the jurors excused were over concerns for financial hardship, health problems, or family issues, but religious bias came into play in a sharp courtroom debate this morning.

Rev. Gerald Robinson, left, listens as attorneys Nicole Khoury and Alan Konop talk today.
Photo by The Blade/Andy Morrison

One woman said she feels the Catholic Church "has gotten off too easy" in the crisis involving clerical sexual abuse of children, but that she could be impartial because this is a murder case, not a molestation case.

When Father Robinson's defense attorneys asked for her to be dismissed, Lucas County Common Pleas Judge Thomas Osowik agreed and ordered her removed. That sparked a brief, but heated exchange with assistant Lucas County prosecutor Dean Mandros.

Judge Thomas J. Osowick addresses a juror today.
Photo by The Blade/Andy Morrison

Mr. Mandros cited the woman's statements that she could be objective in reviewing the facts of the case, but the judge slammed his hand on the bench and said, "I've had it! That's my ruling."

Father Robinson, 68, is charged with murder in the 1980 slaying of Sister Margaret Ann Pahl. Her body was found strangled and stabbed multiple times in the sacristy of Mercy Hospital on Holy Saturday 26 years ago.

If convicted, the priest faces possible life in prison. He cannot face the death penalty because it was not in place in Ohio at the time of the murder.

When jury selection resumed this morning for the third consecutive day, only 20 of nearly 100 people scheduled to be interviewed individually remained.

One juror who had made the first cut returned to court today to say that her child-care arrangements were not working out, and she was excused from the case.

In an unusual situation, a husband and wife were among the prospective jurors interviewed this morning.

Attorneys questioned if they would be able to sit on the same jury during the day and then, after going home, be able to follow the judge's instructions and not discuss the case with anyone - including one another.

"It probably wouldn't be good for the family situation," the woman said, adding that the couple usually go for walks at night and discuss the day's events.

Judge Osowik and attorneys decided to excuse the woman because of the unusual circumstances.

Eighteen prospective jurors were interviewed individually today, bringing the total to 94 since Monday. The first phase of jury selection is known as voir dire, French for "speak the truth."

Once the original field of 99 is whittled down, the next phase will involve a general selection process to choose 12 jurors and 4 alternates.

Opening arguments in the case are scheduled to begin Friday. The high-profile case will be broadcast live, gavel-to-gavel, on Court TV and has generated international media attention.