More than half of the first panel of prospective jurors for the manslaughter trial of Michael Jackson's doctor were dismissed because of hardship claims Thursday, signaling a long search ahead for those who will serve in the five-week trial.
And it is yet unclear how many prospects will be excused for disclosing strong opinions about Jackson, defendant Dr. Conrad Murray and the high profile case with which all potential panelists are familiar.
Authorities contend Murray gave Jackson a lethal dose of the anesthetic propofol in the bedroom of the pop superstar's rented mansion in June 2009, but attorneys for the physician deny he administered anything that should have been fatal. They will contend that Jackson swallowed an overdose of propofol when Murray wasn't watching.
When the judge asked Thursday whether anyone in the jury room was unaware of case, not a single hand was raised.
A larger than expected contingent of 187 prospects showed up for questioning Thursday. Court officials said that of those, 115 were dismissed and 72 remained to fill out lengthy questionnaires probing their views of the case in which Murray is charged with involuntary manslaughter in the pop star's death. Murray has pleaded not guilty in the case.
A new panel of prospects was on call for Friday morning and questioning could continue Monday if a sufficient pool has not been cleared by then. The judge has said he wants 100 prospects available who have no problems with hardship and no views on their questionnaires extreme enough to require dismissal.
Those who reported for duty Thursday appeared ready for the news delivered to them by Superior Court Judge Michael Pastor: They had been summoned to serve on Los Angeles' biggest trial of the year — the involuntary manslaughter trial of Michael Jackson's doctor.
No one flinched at the announcement. And all indicated they had prior knowledge of the case.
The judge was not surprised.
"We didn't expect you'd been living under a rock for the past several years, or that you made a pit stop from Mars," Pastor said.
Murray sat with his lawyers on one side of a long table and prosecutors on the other in the vast jury assembly room, which was transformed into a courtroom for the first round of a jury selection process that is expected to take two weeks to find a pool of 100 people willing and qualified to serve on the case.
The judge told prospects he had decided against sequestering the jury because he felt, "Jurors would, in effect, be prisoners if they were holed up in a hotel. "
A central focus of his talk was the Internet and all of its offshoots.
"I certainly realize that for some of us, especially those who have grown up in the Internet age, searching the Internet is as easy as breathing," Pastor said.
But he warned that jurors must avoid online reports about the case.
"If you want to Google, Google away," he said. "Surf the Net, but not about anything to do with this case."
He read an admonition that will be repeated daily forbidding them to discuss the case with anyone, to post messages on social networks or to read any tweets about the case.
He warned they must wait until 90 days after the case is over to negotiate any deals to be paid for information.
"This is not a case about whether Dr. Murray is guilty or innocent," he said. "It's about whether the people can meet the burden of proving him guilty beyond a reasonable doubt."
Prosecutors and defense attorneys will have several days to scrutinize the responses before direct questioning of potential jurors begins on Sept. 23.
Jackson's death on June 25, 2009, stunned the world. The King of Pop had been in final preparations for a series of comeback concerts in London, and the focus quickly turned to Murray, his personal physician.
The Houston-based cardiologist faces up to four years in prison and the loss of his medical license if convicted.
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AP reporter Anthony McCartney contributed to this report.