Whitey Bulger
Credit: Hand out
Eighteen people have been sworn in as jurors to decide the fate of alleged mob boss James “Whitey” Bulger.
The Bulger jury was finalized Tuesday morning during a hearing in federal court in South Boston. Bulger, 83, was present for the hearing again wearing a long-sleeve shirt and jeans.
The 18 member panel is made up of 11 men and seven women. Eight men and four women make up the primary jurors. The remaining six jurors are alternates.
Finalizing the jury comes one week after a pool of hundreds of people were screened to determine their eligibility to serve. The jury pool filled out a questionnaire that was reviewed by both sides.
Prosecutors and Bulger’s lawyer exercised a limited number of preemptory challenges Tuesday morning to dismiss jurors without having to give a reason.
Jury selection was scheduled to take place over four days last week, but it took longer pushing opening statements to this week.
Opening statements are scheduled for Wednesday, but a judge has to decide on a recent request by Bulger’s lawyer to delay those.
Follow Michael Naughton on Twitter @metrobosmike.
