Cosby Team Says Prosecutors Tossed Potential Juror Because She’s Black

NORRISTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA —Tempers flared Wednesday morning at jury selection for Bill Cosby’s criminal trial as his defense team charged the prosecution excluded a potential juror who is black due to her race.

“She passed every single stage as a fair and impartial juror,” argued defense attorney Kathleen Bliss as she revealed she had a motion challenging the potential juror’s exclusion. “There is thus no explanation other than her race.”

Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin Steele angrily denied that claim, saying two black jurors had already been picked for the panel and the prosecution did not object to them.

“With the two opportunities we have had to take a member of the African-American community we have done so,” Steele said. “For them to now make a claim that this…establishes some sort of pattern is, I think, unfortunately not being done for this court. It’s being done for the media behind us.”

The allegations came as jury selection went into its third day and put a temporary halt to the proceedings shortly before noon. By the end of the day Wednesday, 12 jurors total had been chosen: four white women, six white men, one black woman, and one black man. They will start picking the six alternate jurors Thursday morning. CLICK FOR MORE