Jury selection in Bill Cosby’s sexual assault retrial began Monday in Pennsylvania. The defense reportedly dealt with a jury pool that had opinions about the #MeToo movement.
According to the Hollywood Reporter, all but 10 of the 120 jurors interviewed had strong thoughts about the guilt or innocence of the comedian.
Bill Cosby arrives at the Montgomery County Courthouse before jury selection in his sexual assault retrial April 2, 2018 in Norristown, Pennsylvania. A former Temple University employee alleges that the entertainer drugged and molested her in 2004 at his home in suburban Philadelphia. More than 40 women have accused the 80 year old entertainer of sexual assault. (Photo by Mark Makela/Getty Images)
All but one person was aware of the #MeToo social media movement that started last fall after allegations of decades-long sexual harassment against disgraced movie mogul Harvey Weinstein surfaced.
Cosby once again faces charges for allegedly drugging and sexually assaulting a former Temple University employee, Andrea Constand, at his home in Philadelphia in 2004.
Last June, the first trial was made up of a jury pool from Allegheny county, far from the city of Philadelphia. The 12 member jury — made up of seven men and five women — remained deadlocked after six days of deliberation in the case.
This time around, the jury for the retrial comes from the Philadelphia suburbs.
Judge Steven O’Neill announced last week that he would not recuse himself from the case after the defense pointed out a potential for him to be swayed by his wife’s work as an advocate for victims of sexual assault.
Members of the jury at the retrial will also hear from an additional five women who have accused Cosby of sexual misconduct. At last year’s trial, the judge did not allow a handful of accusers to be included in the trial. The judge only permitted Constand and another woman, Kelly Johnson, to testify.
The trial is expected to last anywhere from two weeks to a month.