BELLEFONTE - Prospective jurors for the Jerry Sandusky trial likely will be asked "sensitive questions" by attorneys for the prosecution and defense when they come to the Centre County Court on Tuesday for the selection process, according to a spokesman for the Administrative Office of the Pennsylvania Courts.
Sandusky faces more than 50 child sex abuse charges involving 10 children.
On Wednesday the trial judge, John Cleland of McKean County, outlined the jury selection process. He stated in a "Decorum Order" that during the initial jury selection stages, only a few members of the media will be permitted to view the process.
According to James Koval, communications manager for the AOPC, jury selection will involve three stages.
In the first stage, the judge will give general instructions. Questioning of prospective jurors by the judge and attorneys will be done in panels of about 25 at a time.
Finally, questioning of each prospective juror will occur outside the presence of the other jurors, Koval explained.
In the first stage, five members of the media will be present, serving as "pool reporters." In the next stage, the number of media would be limited to two representatives.
The number of members of the public will also be limited.
During the trial stage, the number of reporters allowed into the courtroom will be 85, the same number as those from the public, according to Cleland's order, which is about nine pages in length. It covers such court-sensitive topics as the use of electronic devices, leaving the courtroom, interviews, parking and the credentialing process.
The judge's order covering jury selection and the trial was issued after he again refused defense requests to continue the case.
Cleland still has many issues to decide in the next couple of days, including requests by the defense to dismiss many of the charges against Sandusky.
On Tuesday, Cleland was also flooded by requests and legal briefs from advocacy groups asking that he allow Sandusky's alleged victims to use pseudonyms when they testify.
Kristen Houser of the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape said Wednesday the various groups believe that making the alleged victims reveal their names in a forum that is receiving worldwide attention would put their families at risk and would put them in a position for their lives to be publicly discussed across the country.
She said the ultimate effect would be to discourage victims from coming forward and reporting abuse.
Mirror Staff Writer Phil Ray is at 946-7468.
