Advertisement

You are here

Home ›

If Amundson trial proceeds, jury selection will be more involved than most other cases

Error message

  • Warning: array_merge(): Expected parameter 1 to be an array, bool given in _simpleads_render_ajax_template() (line 133 of /home/pdccourier/www/www/sites/all/modules/simpleads/includes/simpleads.helper.inc).
  • Notice: Trying to get property 'settings' of non-object in _simpleads_adgroup_settings() (line 343 of /home/pdccourier/www/www/sites/all/modules/simpleads/includes/simpleads.helper.inc).
  • Warning: array_merge(): Expected parameter 1 to be an array, bool given in _simpleads_render_ajax_template() (line 157 of /home/pdccourier/www/www/sites/all/modules/simpleads/includes/simpleads.helper.inc).
  • Notice: Trying to access array offset on value of type null in include() (line 24 of /home/pdccourier/www/www/sites/all/modules/simpleads/templates/simpleads_ajax_call.tpl.php).
Submitted by admin1 on Thu, 07/19/2018 - 10:33

Motion to dismiss charge remains on the table

By Correne Martin

A motion to dismiss a potential trial for Aaron Amundson, the Bluff View principal charged with felony child abuse, remains on the table, following a status conference in Crawford County Court Monday afternoon. 

According to the motion, Amundson, through his attorney, Corey Chirafisi, requested the “court dismiss the charge on the grounds that the court was unable to find [he] has committed a felony.”

Representing the state of Wisconsin, attorney Amy Forehand appeared in court Monday by phone. Since she had just read the motion about 10 minutes prior to court, judge Lynn Rider and both counsel agreed Forehand could have until Aug. 3 to file a response to the motion to dismiss. The judge will then make a determination on the motion.

In the meantime, a jury trial for Amundson is scheduled Aug. 21-24 in Crawford County Court. On Monday, all parties discussed jury selection, which they anticipate could take much longer than typical jury selection activity. With this in mind, a questionnaire is being formulated and will be sent out in early August to potential jurors, if the trial is not dismissed. This would be an attempt to limit the amount of time spent in court selecting a jury. Potential jurors would have 10 days to return their questionnaires, giving plenty of time for both attorneys to look them over before jury selection in the courtroom. 

Rider also ran plans by the attorneys regarding pulling a jury panel of 70 county residents from which to select jurors, if the trial proceeds. This number would be more than double the typical amount brought in for jury questioning. These efforts are, again, being put in place because of the highly-public, controversial nature of Amundson’s case.

Rider said the court must also determine, in advance of any trial, how to handle the overcrowding of 70 potential jurors as well as spectators in the courtroom. She and both sides will discuss addressing this issue.

Rate this article: 
No votes yet