With all the delays involved in R. Kelly’s upcoming child pornography case, controversy once trial proceedings began seemed inevitable. Monday, attorneys for the Pied Piper of R&B accused the prosecution from trying to exclude blacks—a significant portion of the population in Cook County—from the jury pool.
The verbal jousting began after the state struck three jurors—two black and one white. Despite the defense’s claims, Judge Vincent Gaughan made an observation of his own during Tuesday’s jury selection telling the defense, “So, all white males,” in response to the jurors Kelly’s attorneys removed.
According to a Chicago Sun Times report, Ed Genson told the judge that he “didn’t see people like that” and “I see one color.”
To date, eight jurors have been chosen—four black and four white—and all have said they will be able to judge the trial fairly.
One juror, a father of three said even though he believed Kelly is guilty, that he could be fair.
“I have two little kids,” he said, “and child pornography is as low as it gets.”