LOS ANGELES - After five grueling weeks of intense questioning, 12 jurors were sworn in Thursday to sit for the O.J. Simpson double-murder trial.
Fifteen alternates still must be chosen, a process that could take the rest of the month.
Racial composition of the group: eight blacks, one white, one Hispanic and two of mixed race. Ages: 22 to 52.
"I want to welcome you to the league of judges," Judge Lance Ito told the smiling panel of eight women and four men. "I believe you can rise to the occasion despite the unusual circumstances."
Next step: Lawyers today hammer out an authorized film and publication list for jurors. Taped TV shows may also be possible; Ito asked jurors to list three programs "they can't live without."
Both sides said they were satisfied with Thursday's results. Defense lawyer Robert Shapiro called the group "very diverse and very reflective of Los Angeles County."
The final selection followed a dramatic battle. Prosecutors and defense lawyers exercised their right to throw out panel members for any reason other than race and gender.
The defense team huddled around Simpson, who took a lead role in decisions.
Prosecutors bounced eight blacks and two whites, while the defense eliminated five whites, one black, one person of mixed race, an Hispanic and two Native Americans.
Monday, Ito has a hearing on whether to ban TV coverage.
