The 20-member jury for the trial of Kyle Rittenhouse has been selected, and opening statements commenced Tuesday.
The jury is composed of 11 women and nine men; 19 of them are white and one is Hispanic, according to reporting from WISN 12 News’s Hillary Mintz.
The 20-member jury will be cut down to 12 for final deliberations, Reuters noted.
Day 2, opening statements 9am. 20 jurors will hear from both legal teams. It will set the tone for the trial. #KyleRittenhouse pic.twitter.com/PrEG8c8slW
— Hillary Mintz (@HILLARY_MINTZ) November 2, 2021
Kenosha County has a population that consists of 87.2% whites, and 7.4% identifying as black or African-American, according to Census.gov.
In one of the most recent high-profile criminal cases, the murder trial for former Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chauvin, half the jury pool was non-white, though the Hennepin County population was 74% white. NPR reported:
Among the 12 jurors and three alternates selected for the panel are three Black men, one Black woman and two jurors who identify as multiracial. If none of the three alternates — all of them white — is needed in the deliberation room, 50% of the panel that will vote on Chauvin’s fate will be Black or multiracial. Hennepin County, where the trial is being held, is only 17% Black or multiracial, while it is 74% white.
The jury found Chuavin guilty of second-degree murder, third-degree murder, and second-degree manslaughter in relation to the death of George Floyd, a black man.
As highlighted by Reuters on Tuesday, several potential jurors in the Rittenhouse case “told the judge they had seen video clips or other evidence that hardened their views on the case, a reflection of the widespread media coverage of the shootings on Aug. 25, 2020. Others said it would not change their belief in Rittenhouse’s guilt or innocence even when presented with contrary evidence. … One man was excused after telling the judge his mind was made up already, citing his strong beliefs about the American right to bear arms.”
Notably, Kenosha County Circuit Court Judge Bruce Schroeder warned that the case “has become very political” and urged jurors to be “fair and impartial.”
Last August, Kenosha was hit with arson, rioting, vandalism, and looting by protesters over the police wounding of an armed man, Jacob Blake. The county suffered a reported $50 million in damages.
Rittenhouse, then 17 years old, traveled to Kenosha on August 25, 2020, with the stated intent to protect small businesses. During an incident with rioters, the teen, who was armed, fatally shot two men and injured a third.
He was charged with five felony counts and one misdemeanor, including first-degree intentional homicide, first-degree reckless homicide, two counts of first-degree recklessly endangering safety, attempted first-degree intentional homicide, and possession of a dangerous weapon by a person under 18. In January, he pleaded not guilty.
Judge Schroeder during pre-trial last week told prosecutors they’re barred from referring to the men shot by Rittenhouse as “victims,” while the defense team was permitted to refer to them as “rioters” and “looters,” if they can provide evidence of such actions.
“He can demonize them if he wants, if he thinks it will win points with the jury,” the judge reportedly said. “The word victim is a loaded, loaded word,” Schroeder added, telling prosecution they can’t use the term “victim” to refer to those shot.
Such restrictions are not uncommon in self-defense cases, though the ruling did upset prosecution.
Related: ‘Hope As A Christian’: Kenosha Pastor Wants Rittenhouse Convicted
Related: Judge: Men Shot By Rittenhouse Not ‘Victims,’ But ‘Rioters’ And ‘Looters’ During Arguments