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**first_pr** · 04-03-2009, 06:40 PM

No doubt that reply ^ (plus numerous ansers I'd give to the questionnaire cited below) would keep me off this jury ...

Lawyers Delve Deep Into Minds of Jury Pool in Astor Son’s Trial

NY TIMES
By JOHN ELIGON
April 3, 2009

Before making it onto the 12-person panel that will decide the fate of Brooke Astor’s son, potential jurors face a 10-page questionnaire, with an additional two pages reserved for comments, that examines the nitty-gritty details of their lives and their thinking.

Sure, there are the usual questions, like whether one has ever been the victim of a crime or what newspapers one likes to read.

But in a case that will explore New York high society and the struggle over the estate of its matriarch, Mrs. Astor, jurors have also been asked to open up about the details of their own fortunes.

Do you have a will? If so, and if you have a spouse or partner, what percentage of your assets have you left to him or her in your will? How much to your children? How much to any charity, cultural or other nonprofit organization?

And then there are those questions that examine the mind.

Do you personally know people whom you consider to be extremely wealthy? If so, please explain. Do you have any attitudes, positive or negative, toward people of great wealth that would affect your ability to be a fair and impartial juror in this case?

Mrs. Astor’s son, Anthony D. Marshall, is facing charges that he looted his mother’s estate by taking advantage of her Alzheimer’s disease to make her amend her will in his favor. Prosecutors have also charged Francis X. Morrissey, a lawyer who did estate planning for Mrs. Astor.

Both men are charged with conspiracy and scheming to defraud. Mr. Marshall also faces charges of grand larceny that could send him to prison for up to 25 years if he is convicted. Mr. Morrissey also faces charges of forgery that carry a maximum sentence of seven years in prison.

The case is less than halfway through a painstakingly long jury selection process, made especially difficult by the fact that the trial is expected to last two to three months. For the past four days, Justice A. Kirke Bartley Jr., who is presiding over the trial in State Supreme Court in Manhattan, and the lawyers for both sides have been trying to find people who can make a three-month commitment.

So far, about 200 people have volunteered, and on Monday the lawyers will begin weeding through the questionnaires, which have 43 questions plus sub-questions, to whittle their way toward a panel of 12 jurors and 4 alternates.

Copyright 2009 The New York Times Company

04-03-2009, 06:40 PM	#35
first_pr Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 427 Senior Member	No doubt that reply ^ (plus numerous ansers I'd give to the questionnaire cited below) would keep me off this jury ... Lawyers Delve Deep Into Minds of Jury Pool in Astor Son’s Trial NY TIMES By JOHN ELIGON April 3, 2009 Before making it onto the 12-person panel that will decide the fate of Brooke Astor’s son, potential jurors face a 10-page questionnaire, with an additional two pages reserved for comments, that examines the nitty-gritty details of their lives and their thinking. Sure, there are the usual questions, like whether one has ever been the victim of a crime or what newspapers one likes to read. But in a case that will explore New York high society and the struggle over the estate of its matriarch, Mrs. Astor, jurors have also been asked to open up about the details of their own fortunes. Do you have a will? If so, and if you have a spouse or partner, what percentage of your assets have you left to him or her in your will? How much to your children? How much to any charity, cultural or other nonprofit organization? And then there are those questions that examine the mind. Do you personally know people whom you consider to be extremely wealthy? If so, please explain. Do you have any attitudes, positive or negative, toward people of great wealth that would affect your ability to be a fair and impartial juror in this case? Mrs. Astor’s son, Anthony D. Marshall, is facing charges that he looted his mother’s estate by taking advantage of her Alzheimer’s disease to make her amend her will in his favor. Prosecutors have also charged Francis X. Morrissey, a lawyer who did estate planning for Mrs. Astor. Both men are charged with conspiracy and scheming to defraud. Mr. Marshall also faces charges of grand larceny that could send him to prison for up to 25 years if he is convicted. Mr. Morrissey also faces charges of forgery that carry a maximum sentence of seven years in prison. The case is less than halfway through a painstakingly long jury selection process, made especially difficult by the fact that the trial is expected to last two to three months. For the past four days, Justice A. Kirke Bartley Jr., who is presiding over the trial in State Supreme Court in Manhattan, and the lawyers for both sides have been trying to find people who can make a three-month commitment. So far, about 200 people have volunteered, and on Monday the lawyers will begin weeding through the questionnaires, which have 43 questions plus sub-questions, to whittle their way toward a panel of 12 jurors and 4 alternates. Copyright 2009 The New York Times Company
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