Date For Jury Selection In Bill Cosby Trial Set

NORRISTOWN, PA — Jury selection for the Bill Cosby retrial will begin on March 29, Montgomery County Judge Steven T. O'Neill announced in an order released on Friday.

Unlike the last trial, which drew jurors from Allegheny County and brought them to Montgomery County, the retrial's jurors will be local residents, drawn from Montgomery County. It will be up to people who may have grown up with Cosby's presence as a Philadelphia icon to ultimately determine his fate.

The trial itself is scheduled to begin in April.

Further details on the upcoming trial are still being ironed out. Prosecutors have requested that 19 of Cosby's former accusers be allowed to testify. During Cosby's first trial last June, prosecutors only requested the testimony of 13 of Cosby's accusers. Judge Steven T. O'Neill ultimately only allowed the testimony of one of them: Kelly Johnson. To go for 19 now represents a massive ask.

Cosby faces three counts of aggravated indecent assault in connection to the incident. His first trial last June ended in a mistrial after the jury was deadlocked.

His defense team includes former Michael Jackson lawyer Thomas Meserau, along with noted attorneys Kathleen Bliss and Sam Silver. It's a full transition from the deadlocked jury trial last June, after lead attorney Brian McMonagle and widely regarded defender Angela Agrusa both left the team.

Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin Steele will lead the prosecution.

AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File