A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham Page 0,165

were back in their seats, seventy-six in all now that the last three hardships had been quietly informed by a bailiff that they were free to go. Once the pool was in place, the doors opened to the public and a crowd swarmed in. Several reporters rushed to the front row on the left side behind the defense. The Kofer family and friends filed in, after having spent hours loitering in the humid hallway. Dozens of others jockeyed for seats. Harry Rex sat near the back, as far away from the Kofers as possible. Lucien eased into a middle row to observe the pool. There was rustling and creaking from above as the balcony opened up and spectators found their places in folding chairs.

Carla found a seat near the front, not far from Jake. She had taken Josie and Kiera to Finley’s office where they would spend the afternoon, waiting. If Dyer wanted to talk to Kiera, she was a phone call away.

When the lawyers were in place, Judge Noose reappeared and settled himself at the bench. He frowned around the room to make sure all was in order, then pulled his mike closer. “I see we have a number of spectators who’ve joined us in the gallery. Welcome. We will maintain order and decorum throughout these proceedings and anyone who becomes disruptive will be taken away.”

There had not been a disruptive squeak before the warning.

He looked at a bailiff and said, “Bring in the defendant.”

A door by the jury box opened and a deputy walked out, with Drew behind him, free of cuffs and shackles. At first he seemed overwhelmed by the size of the room, and the crowd, and so many people staring at him; then he looked down and watched the floor as he was led to the defense table. He sat in a chair between Jake and Miss Libby, with Portia behind them by the bar.

Noose cleared his throat and began, “Now, for the next few hours we will attempt to select a jury, twelve jurors and two alternates. This will not be that exciting and there will be no live testimony until tomorrow, assuming we have a jury chosen by then. This is a criminal case from Ford County. It’s styled The State of Mississippi v. Drew Allen Gamble. Mr. Gamble, would you please stand and face the jury pool.”

Jake said this would happen. Drew stood, turned and faced the courtroom with a serious face, no smile at all, then nodded and sat down. Jake leaned over and whispered, “I like that coat and tie.”

Drew nodded but was afraid to smile.

Noose continued, “We will not dwell on the facts at this time, but I will read to you a quick summary of the indictment, the formal charge against the defendant. It reads: ‘That on March 25, 1990, in Ford County, Mississippi, the defendant, one Drew Allen Gamble, age sixteen, did willfully and deliberately and with full criminal intent, shoot and kill the deceased, Stuart Lee Kofer, an officer of the law. Pursuant to section 97-3-19 of the Mississippi Code, the murder of an officer of the law, whether on duty or not, is a capital offense, punishable by death.’ Therefore, ladies and gentlemen, this is a capital case, and the State is seeking the death penalty.”

Apparently, Noose had squeezed the county for even more money, for a new PA system. His words were clear and loud, and “death penalty” rattled around the ceiling for a few seconds, then landed hard on the jurors.

Noose introduced the lawyers and rambled on a bit too long about each. Humorless and dull by nature, he was trying mightily to show some personality and make everyone feel right at home in his courtroom. It was a noble effort, but tension was high, there was work to be done, so everyone wanted to get on with it.

He explained to the courtroom that the selection process would be done in phases. Initially, he would examine the panel, and many of his questions were required by law. He urged the prospects to be forthcoming, not afraid to speak up, not afraid to let everyone know what was on their minds. Only by an honest and open give-and-take could they hope to find a fair and impartial jury. He then launched into a series of inquiries designed not so much to provoke discussion as to put people to sleep. Many of them were about jury service and qualifications, and Noose lost territory already