On the second day of jury selection in Fort Pierce, Florida, the field of candidates for the federal trial of Ryan Routh continued to narrow sharply. Of approximately 180 potential jurors, only 96 remained. The downsizing stemmed from multiple dismissals:
- One woman openly identified herself as “MAGA” and admitted strong support for former President Trump, prompting her removal for evident bias.
- Another woman was excused after saying she understood law only through the lens of “God’s law.”
- Other dismissals included individuals with personal ties to the case—one was present at Routh’s arrest, another received a voicemail from him before the alleged assassination, and one worked in the forensics office connected to the investigation.
Despite some people revealing personal interactions—like a golf superintendent who once declined a job offer from Trump decades ago—Judge Aileen Cannon deemed them impartial enough to stay. However, the process highlighted the court’s emphasis on impartiality as self-representation continues, with Routh overseeing much of his own defense and the judge disallowing irrelevant questioning, such as a bizarre query about turtles crossing the road.
Jury selection is scheduled to conclude on Wednesday, with opening statements expected to begin Thursday.