WASHINGTON—The judge in charge of the Oath Keepers trial said Sept. 28 that he will not disqualify any potential jurors based only on their opinions of the Jan. 6, 2021, breach of the U.S. Capitol.
U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta, an Obama appointee, said that disqualifications will not be entered solely based on opinions on Jan. 6 or the Oath Keepers, provided potential jurors can convince him that they would assess the evidence presented in court objectively.
“It’s normal to have views about Jan. 6,” said Mehta.
If potential jurors can “put aside” previous knowledge from news coverage and social media, and show no emotional reactions related to the breach, the judge said he sees no issue selecting them.
Approximately 35 potential jurors have passed the initial stage. The final jury will be composed of 12.
A school teacher who thinks jury duty is an interesting process said Tuesday afternoon in court that one of her friends had a close relationship with a police officer who committed suicide two days after Jan. 6. “J6 affected him,” she said, adding that “it might be harder” to put aside her feelings. However, she is open to new evidence. She doesn’t know much about the defendants, calling them “Trump Oath Keepers” who interfered with the presidential transition.
The prospective female juror said the charges do not mean much because the trial’s evidence will be essential. Judge Mehta noted that she said she could put her views away. He was undecided about selecting her as a juror.
Another woman recalled seeing a picture in the newspaper with the defendants walking in a crowd associated with the Jan. 6 protests. Her impression of the Oath Keepers is that they looked like they were doing something illegal, and she felt they were upset and making bad choices. She doesn’t know much about the organization other than believing it is a group to protect conservatives when needed. If the defendants present evidence clearly, she said she is open to coming to a different conclusion. Her responses appeared to have convinced Judge Mehta.
“They have a right to support Trump,” said another potential juror, a federal employee for the U.S. Agency for International Development. She described the Oath Keepers as a passionate group formed 15 years ago who had weapons in hotels on Jan. 6. She said her impression of them is “a little negative” due to the violence that day. Nonetheless, she, too, can set aside her views. Judge Mehta seemed satisfied with her answers.
On the same afternoon, a few men expressed their rigid beliefs about Jan. 6 and could not change their minds faced with contradictory evidence. “The evidence that I already saw is pretty solid,” said one of them, “I know what happened that day.” Mehta disqualified him.
Another man who said he formed his opinions of the Oath Keepers based on media coverage said the are an extremist group. He said January 6 was a violent act. He saw images and videos which would be “quite difficult to put aside.” The judge wasn’t happy with the man’s answers.
A health care consultant worker expressed his confusion regarding the January 6 protests by saying, “I don’t understand why people would act like that.” When Mehta questioned whether he could put his opinions aside during the trial, he responded, “I believe I could.” The judge seemed convinced by the potential juror’s answer but didn’t give a verdict.
Up to now, the defense attorneys have appeared concerned that the jury would judge Oath Keepers as a whole organization rather than the defendants on trial alone.
Jury selection is expected to continue through Friday.
