CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) — A judge is still mulling when jury selection for the federal death-penalty trial of a white man accused of fatally shooting nine black church members will reconvene.
A spokesman for U.S. District Judge Richard Gergel said the judge wouldn’t say Monday if jury selection would resume Wednesday as planned. More updates on scheduling were expected Tuesday, when there is no court because of Election Day.
Attorneys for Dylann Roof left the courtroom after the roughly 90-minute hearing Monday without speaking to reporters outside.
Jury selection had been expected to resume Monday in Roof’s case, but defense attorneys requested a hearing. Gergel closed it, saying issues of attorney-client privilege were at stake.
News media outlets argued it was in the public’s interest to keep the 11 a.m. hearing open. Gergel said he may release a redacted transcript in the future.
Roof was present during the brief courtroom activities Monday, clad in a striped jumpsuit and without handcuffs.
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