Churchill v. University of Colorado: Day One

Denver District Court, Courtroom 6

2nd Judicial District, Chief Judge Larry J. Naves presiding.

The lines to pass through courthouse security were long this morning, but as of 9am only about fifteen people wait for the trial to begin. Some of the spectators greet each other, a few wearing buttons that proclaim “I am Ward Churchill.” Two of them vehemently debate topics from free speech to the “Kennedy conspiracy” to why there hasn’t been a revolution in the United States in the last quarter century. The others appear to be present to serve jury duty.

The law clerk calls potential jurors one by one into chambers. The jurors filled out questionnaires last week. This morning, individual voir dire is being conducted outside open court, presumably because of the personal nature of questions on 9/11 and the motivations of the terrorist attack. The clerk informs us that general voir dire will begin in the courtroom today at 1:30pm.