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In Police Shooting Trial, Judge To Question Jurors

Josh Hastings
Pulaski Co. Sheriff's Office

The judge in the manslaughter case of a former Little Rock police officer says black potential jurors were improperly excluded from a case that ended in a mistrial.

Circuit Judge Wendell Griffen signed an order Wednesday saying that he will do most of the questioning of prospective jurors when Josh Hastings is put on trial again next month.

Griffen said in his order that he should have called the defense to account for striking people of color from the jury pool, resulting in an all-white jury.

Hastings is charged in the shooting death of 15-year-old Bobby Moore III.

A jury deadlocked in June and Hastings' retrial is to start Sept. 16. Griffen says he will allow lawyers to submit juror questions to him in writing for pre-approval.