LAS VEGAS (CN) — The media, politics and the legal system — three institutions Americans have become increasingly divided on and skeptical of in the past decade — collided Monday with the beginning of the trial of Robert Telles, a former Clark County politician accused of killing journalist Jeff German.
German's body was discovered outside his home on September 5, 2022, after he wrote multiple stories for the Las Vegas Review-Journal about the hostile work environment inside the Clark County Public Administrator’s office led by Telles. Telles was arrested three days later and charged with first-degree murder.
What followed was a legal process spanning multiple delays and attorney changes, that stretched out for almost two years before jury selection finally began. These delays lasted until the last minute, with the Review-Journal submitting 64 gigabytes of evidence from German's laptop on the day of jury selection. In a hearing immediately before jury selection, Telles waived his right to challenge the Review-Journal's assertations of privilege for any additional data.
Telles has pleaded not guilty and claims he was framed for German’s murder. Three months before German was found dead outside his home, Telles publicly blamed German and the Review-Journal for turning voters against him and costing him reelection, claiming the newspaper made "false claims" about his actions.
Prosecutors say Telles was lying in wait and stabbed German multiple times. German’s stories on the Clark County administrator delved into accusations of wrongdoing and a toxic work environment Telles supposedly created. Telles also was accused of being involved in an inappropriate relationship with a staffer.
Prosecutors and defendants now face the task of selecting 12 jurors from a pool of 57 — a pool so large that it overflowed the jury box and stretched out into the gallery. This pool was narrowed down to 32 after Clark County District Judge Michelle Leavitt asked the jurors about hardships, relationships to witnesses and familiarity with the case.
Prosecutor Christopher Hamner then spoke to the panel of 32, using an approach that appeared keenly aware of the increased skepticism towards the legal system. He began by asking a broad question: which jurors believed the legal system is fair. Roughly half of the jurors raised their hands, with some hesitating before doing so.
Hamner called on some of the jurors who raised their hands, asking them to explain their belief. He seized on the opportunity to call out what these jurors saw as major strengths of the system, including the presumption of innocence and the prosecution's burden of proof. He described this burden as the "highest in the land," and noted it's the jury's job to hold prosecutors to that standard.
Hamner then asked those who've previously served on juries whether they think the system is fair. Some expressed concerns about the influence of politics, the legal system and the media, but Hamner redirected them to a more specific question: did they believe the jury they served on gave both the defense and prosecution a fair evaluation?
He then spoke to those who said they believe the system is unfair. Hamner let them air their concerns and grievances, validating them rather than arguing with them. He then asked for a commitment — could they set aside their personal grievances and focus solely on the evidence presented in this case? He steered the questioning toward getting jurors to commit to embodying the ideal fair and impartial system that returns a verdict based on the facts presented.
The case suffered from extensive delays beginning in March after prosecutors sought access to German’s personal devices, which have become a focal point of legal contention following German's death given the Review-Journal's reluctance to provide the court with records related to the case from German's laptop and phone.
The day ended before the prosecution could complete its questions. The full group of 32 potential jurors, along with six alternates, will appear in the courthouse again Tuesday morning where they will face further questions from the prosecution, along with questions from the defense.
The trial is expected to take at least two weeks. Leavitt acknowledged it could extend to a third week, depending on how many witnesses are called.
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