Ladies and gentlemen of the jury

Greetings from the Calloway County Courthouse Circuit Courtroom 1, where Cape Girardeau Prosecuting Attorney Morley Swingle and defense attorney Steve Wilson have just concluded the process of questioning a panel of prospective jurors to hear the case against Steven R. Julian.

Julian faces one felony county of involuntary manslaughter after allegedly shooting Zachary Snyder on Feb. 14. Julian was a fugutive recovery agent for the Missouri Department of Corrections.

The panel of nearly 50 people fills every available seat in the front portion of the courtroom.

The process of selecting jurors is referred to as the voir dire, meaning "to see to speak." It gives the attorneys on both sides a say in the jury creation process by allowing them to see who might be hearing the case, and to communicate with them.

"It's more accurate to say this is the part of the trial where the jury is unpicked," Swingle said.

Both attorneys have the chance to ask questions of the potential jurors, and may select a set number each to NOT serve on the jury.

Swingle asked questions pertaining to the department of corrections, and law enforcement, and whether anyone would be more likely to believe a law enforcement officer over someone who was not. He also asked if anyone had any relatives who might be in law enforcement and have injured someone in the line of duty.

Wilson asked if anyone knew anyone who might be testifying for either side, and whether anyone had any strong feelings aobut the use of handguns.

"There are no right or wrong answers. There are only your answers," Wilson said.