FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Jury selection in the penalty trial of the Parkland school shooter hit a new stumbling block when a potential juror wore a T-shirt potentially prejudicial to his case.
The woman wore a burgundy and silver T-shirt on Monday saying "Teachers Strong" and two hashtags — #neveragain and #msdstrong” — referring to Cruz's 2018 murder of 17 people at Parkland's Marjory Stoneman Douglas High.
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Those are the school's colors and such T-shirts were ubiquitous in South Florida long after the shooting.
Judge Elizabeth Scherer dismissed not only the woman, but nine other potential jurors who were in her group.
The public also learned Monday that a member of the defense team has also become ill unexpectedly. There's no official word on whether that will delay the case.
Cruz pleaded guilty to the murders last year.
The jury will decide whether he gets a sentence of death or life in prison.
Testimony is scheduled to start June 27 and possibly last through the end of October.