Miles v. City of Pittsburgh

Full title: JORDAN MILES, Plaintiff, v. CITY OF PITTSBURGH, MICHAEL SALDUTTE, DAVID…

Court: UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE WESTERN DISTRICT OF PENNSYLVANIA

Date published: Jul 6, 2012

Civil Action No. 10-1135 (W.D. Pa. Jul. 6, 2012)

Opinion

Civil Action No. 10-1135

07-06-2012

JORDAN MILES, Plaintiff, v. CITY OF PITTSBURGH, MICHAEL SALDUTTE, DAVID SISAK, and RICHARD EWING Defendants.

ORDER

AND NOW, this 6 day of July, 2012, the court makes the following findings in connection with voir dire of jurors in this matter:

• The proceedings in this case have received a great deal of media coverage.
• This case involves a physical confrontation between three white male police officers and an African American male.
• The court seeks to question jurors regarding their racial attitudes and other sensitive matters.
• Conducting such individualized questioning in camera rather than in open court will facilitate candor on the part of prospective jurors.
• Conducting individual voir dire in camera is within this court's discretion, as it is well-established that "the method of conducting the voir dire is left to the sound discretion of the district court." Waldorf v. Shuta, 3 F.3d 705, 710 (3d Cir. 1993). See also United States v. Wecht, 537 F.3d 222, 242-43 (3d Cir. 2008) (denying media request that voir dire be conducted in open court).

Consistent with the foregoing findings, it is HEREBY ORDERED that collective voir dire of jurors, as set forth in Local Civil Rule 4 7B, will take place in open court and individual voir dire of jurors will take place in camera.

BY THE COURT,

___, C.J. cc: All Counsel of Record