Kyle Rittenhouse on Tuesday morning picked his final 12 jurors by pulling assigned numbers out of a raffle-style drum.
With 18 jurors left, the defendant was asked to randomly pull six scraps of paper from all the assigned numbers of the jurors. The six he drew were asked to be alternates, who will likely not be used, the judge said, but could be in theory.
Judge Bruce Schroeder has instructed the 3 women and 3 men who were not selected to remain at the courthouse. He says it's unlikely but they could be needed as alternates. While they wait, they are not allowed to discuss the trial — even among themselves.
— Andrea Albers (@AndreaAlbersTV) November 16, 2021
The leftover 12 will decide the fate of Rittenhouse, who’s on trial for double homicide and has pleaded not guilty to all counts, citing self-defense.
“We’re underway with final 12 juror selection,” reported Andrew Havranek. “The 6 who are dismissed will be kept here in the courthouse.”
Havranek noted that Judge Bruce Schroeder has a “very hoarse” voice, today.
The reporter also posted video of Rittenhouse, 18, pulling the six numbers from the drum.
Kyle Rittenhouse has drawn the 12 numbers of the jurors who will decide his case #RittenhouseTrial pic.twitter.com/qa4yarUfAm
— Andrew Havranek (@Andrew_Havranek) November 16, 2021
The six numbers he drew were 11, 58, 14, 45, 9, and 52. They will be serving as alternates.
#BREAKING: The jury is officially headed into deliberations for the #RittenhouseTrial @SpectrumNews1WI
— Andrew Havranek (@Andrew_Havranek) November 16, 2021
Earlier this month, one of the final 20 jurors was dismissed over a joke he made about Jacob Blake, an armed black man shot by police, The Daily Wire reported:
Assistant District Attorney Thomas Binger told the court that his understanding of the joke was that it went something like, “Why did the Kenosha police shoot Jacob Blake seven times? Because they ran out of bullets.”
Kenosha County has a population that consists of 87.2% whites, and 7.4% identifying as black or African-American, according to Census.gov. According to reporter Andrea Albers, the jury is now comprised of five men and seven women, “including one person of color.”
On Monday, the judge dismissed the jury for the night emphasizing to them they have an obligation to render a fair verdict, not based on his presumed opinion, news media, or comments from President Joe Biden, or his predecessor President Donald Trump.
“The time has now come where the great burden of reaching a just, fair, and conscientious decision in this case will be placed totally with you. You will not be swayed by sympathy, passion, prejudice, or political beliefs. You will disregard any impressions that you may have, which you may believe are my opinion on the guilt or innocence of the defendant,” Schroeder said.
“You will disregard the claims or opinions of any person, news media, or social networking site,” the judge told the jury. “You will pay no heed to the opinions of anyone — even the president of the United States, or the president before him.”
“The founders of our country gave you, and you alone, the power and the duty to decide this case,” Schroeder asserted.
The judge then gave general instructions to the jury, before sending them home.
Related: ‘Hope As A Christian’: Kenosha Pastor Wants Rittenhouse Convicted
Related: Judge: Men Shot By Rittenhouse Not ‘Victims,’ But ‘Rioters’ And ‘Looters’ During Arguments