Warren Jeffs Jury Selection, Troubled Defense Attorney

Jury Selection for Warren Jeffs’ trial began Monday July 25 in San Angelo, Texas, as about 280 potential jurors showed up at Tom Green County Courthouse to fill out questionnaires. Before the selection process began, Jeffs’ latest defense attorney made another request for a delay on the trial. Attorney Derik Walpole, defense lawyer number seven and on the case less than three weeks before the trial, said that he has worked 18-22 hours a day but is not ready.  Judge Barbara Walther, refusing to postpone, said that Jeffs’ behavior towards his defense is out of the court’s control. The prosecution criticized Jeffs ‘ hiring and firing of so many defense attorneys as a stall tactic. The jury selection will continue as lawyers on both sides brief potential candidates. The 55-year-old Jeffs, head of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, is being charged with sexual assault of one child and aggravated sexual assault of another. He will be tried on separate bigamy charges in October and if found guilty faces maximum life sentencing in prison.