A Fulton County judge has issued arrest warrants for potential jurors in the Brian Nichols' case who ignored a summons to appear in court today.
Judge Hilton Fuller summoned sixty citizens for evading jury duty; more than half didn't show up for the hearing today. He told those that did show up they had two options: either plead guilty to contempt of court and pay a $200 fine or plead not guilty and return for a hearing.
Judge Hilton Fuller summoned sixty citizens for evading jury duty; more than half didn't show up for the hearing today. He told those that did show up they had two options: either plead guilty to contempt of court and pay a $200 fine or plead not guilty and return for a hearing.
Either way, everyone's name goes back into the Nichols' jury pool.
“It makes no difference to me whether you acknowledge it or not," said Judge Fuller. "Everybody here is a prospective juror no matter what announcements you’ve given me."
Those who pleaded guilty were fined $200 and will have a misdemeanor for contempt of court on record. For those who pleaded not guilty, a hearing is set for September 5.
Brian Nichols is charged with killing four people while trying to escape from the Fulton County Courthouse in March 2005. His long-awaited trial had been delayed for lack of defense funding. It is now scheduled for September 10.
