An all-white jury was selected in the first trial of one of the Jena Six
by Abbey Brown - The Town Talk (excerpt)

JENA -- Some cried foul Tuesday afternoon after an all-white jury was selected in the first trial of one of the "Jena Six" -- the name given to the six black students charged in a Dec. 4 fight at Jena High School that, according to court records, left Justin Barker, a white student, unconscious.

Mychal Bell, 17, is charged with aggravated second-degree battery and conspiracy to do the same after LaSalle Parish District Attorney Reed Walters reduced his charges Monday from attempted second-degree murder.

"There should have been at least one black if not more on the jury," Bell's grandmother Rosie Simmons said after court was dismissed Tuesday. "I know they are going by procedure, but I just think more blacks should have been called to serve."

The court summoned 150 people for the jury pool, but only 50 showed up, court officials said. All of the 50 who reported for jury duty were white. Some of the 100 who didn't show up -- excused or unexcused -- were black, said Bell's attorney, Blane Williams.

The trial is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. today with instructions for the jury and opening statements.