The Utah Supreme Court’s decision to deny the request for in-person jury selection and the use of multi-county juries in the Kouri Richins case has significant implications for the trial process.
The justices sided with 3rd District Presiding Judge Laura Scott, emphasizing that state law does not permit multi-county juries and that Judge Scott’s decision was not required to defer to the trial court’s initial ruling.
The decision also reaffirms the procedural preference for virtual jury selection, following a 2023 order.
This ruling, which comes ahead of the upcoming trial, highlights the balance between concerns over finding an impartial jury in a high-profile case and adhering to established legal procedures.
Given the nature of the case, with Richins facing charges related to the death of her husband, the intense media coverage and the possibility of bias in a smaller community like Summit County seem to have been key concerns for both the prosecution and the defense.
It will be interesting to see how the trial unfolds with the jury selection proceeding virtually, as planned.