Not everyone wants off jury duty in Harris case

Prospective juror No. 13 said Friday he hoped to qualify because “it’s something I’ve never done.”

Not everyone summoned for jury duty on the Ross Harris murder trial hopes to be excused.

Prospective juror No. 13, a customer service executive, said Friday he hoped to qualify because “it’s something I’ve never done.”

No. 13 is likely to make the cut for other reasons. A new parent, he expressed a “distaste” for the 24-hour news cycle and said he tuned out coverage of the case because it triggered anxiety in his wife, a first-time mother.

“We made a conscious effort to disengage,” he said, adding he had not formed an opinion about Harris’ guilt or innocence.

Harris, charged with felony and malice murder, told police he forgot to drop off 22-month-old Cooper at day care and instead drove to his office at Home Depot, parked and left his son in the car. He discovered his only child’s lifeless body some eight hours later, was arrested that night and has been held without bond since June 2014.

Eight Cobb County residents were qualified Thursday to serve as jurors. At least 32 are necessary to proceed, counting 12 jurors, two alternates and 9 peremptory challenges apiece afforded to the prosecution and defense. Legal observers say more alternates are likely, although Cobb County Superior Court Judge Mary Staley hasn’t said one way

or another.

Regardless, the process is likely to continue for at least another week, perhaps more.

As has been true from the beginning, each of the prospective jurors questioned Friday said he or she was aware of the case. Two of them, a former Roswell police sergeant and a bond trader, testified they had formed a fixed opinion on Harris, 35.

“I can’t fathom why anyone would leave a child unaccompanied anywhere, not just a car,” said the bond trader, adding his belief in Harris’ guilt was “etched in my mind pretty deep.”

Another citizen questioned Friday demonstrated how difficult it would be to find jurors anywhere who haven’t heard about the case. The woman, a writing coach, said family members in Chicago followed it closely, keeping her updated even though she was the one living in Cobb County.

Remaining impartial would be difficult, said the woman, who later broke down after lawyers asked about her brother who had been murdered.

She told them she hoped not to be picked for the Harris jury.

The selection process resumes Monday morning.

CONTRIBUTED Justin Ross Harris (right) and his son, Cooper, take in a ball game. Police say Harris intentionally left Cooper in a sweltering car to die.