Bill Cosby Team Claims Racial Prejudice In Jury Selection: Report

NORRISTOWN, PA — Bill Cosby's defense team claimed Wednesday that the prosecution is attempting to keep a black woman off of the jury, according to reports. The allegations brought the jury selection process to a halt on Wednesday morning after eight jurors had already been seated.

Among those jurors are four men and four women; two are black and six are white.

USA Today reports that Cosby's attorneys said the prosecution had a racial bias and motivation in using one its seven "strikes" on a black woman who was a prospective juror.

The prosecution quickly denied the accusation and pointed to the black jurors that had already been seated as proof. Judge Steven T. O'Neill said that he did not believe the prosecution had a "discriminatory intent," according to NBC10, but the proceedings were halted anyway so that he could consider that argument of the defense.

Specifically, Cosby's lawyers reportedly cited a Supreme Court ruling from 1986 that prohibits prosecutors from using race as a motivating factor in seating jurors.

Cosby, 80, has pleaded not guilty to charges that he drugged and molested Temple University employee Andrea Constand inside his Cheltenham home in 2004. Dozens of women have leveled similar accusations at Cosby in recent years, however, Constand is the first to bring the former comedian to criminal trial.

O'Neill ruled twice in favor of the defense already this week, granting the testimony of Margeurite Jackson, a woman whom lawyers claim was a confidant of Constand's that can discredit her story. O'Neill also ruled Tuesday that the sum of money which Cosby paid Constand in their 2006 agreement could be made public.

The final four jury spots will be chosen from a pool of more than 100 prospective candidates, all Montgomery County residents.

See our full coverage on Cosby and the case below.

• Cosby Defense May Call Witness That Doubts Accuser, Judge Rules
• Bill Cosby Team Seeks To Ban T-Shirts, Buttons, Flowers At Trial
• 5 Bill Cosby Accusers Can Testify At Trial, Judge Rules
• Judge O'Neill Denies Bill Cosby Team's Request For Recusal
• Bill Cosby's Daughter, Ensa, Dies At Age 44: Reports

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