Harvard chemist Charles Lieber heads to trial over China interactions
The criminal case United States of America v. Charles Lieber began this morning with jury selection. Lieber appeared in court wearing a charcoal gray suit and a surgical mask.
At the start of the day, Judge Rya W. Zobel expressed concern that the case had generated some publicity: Lieber’s attorney Marc Mukasey noted that the story was on the front page of the Boston Globe this morning, and Zobel said she will ask potential jurors if they have heard about the case from the news.
Zobel also said she would explain to the jury pool that this is a criminal case and will introduce the lawyers to the jury pool. She said she will point out the defendant and explain the charges against him.
In addition, Zobel said she will ask potential jurors if they have experience with the US criminal justice system or the Internal Revenue Service that would make it difficult to be fair in this case. She said she will ask potential jurors if they have feelings about China or the Chinese government that would prevent them from being impartial and if they read or speak Chinese because some of the evidence will be documents in Chinese. Zobel said she will instruct the jury that the government has to prove their case and Lieber does not have to testify. She said she anticipates that many potential jurors will say they have holiday travel plans that will make it difficult to serve on the jury.
However, Zobel did not allow members of the media and public to witness jury selection, telling them to leave the courtroom because of limited space and a large pool of potential jurors. Media representatives were sent to an overflow room that didn’t allow them to hear the proceedings.
The two prosecution and four defense attorneys agreed that it’s likely that all the evidence in the case will be presented by Monday, Dec. 20. Because of concerns about COVID-19 transmission, Zobel suggested that everyone in the courtroom should wear a mask except when they are speaking.
Jury selection concluded shortly after 1 p.m. The attorneys will give their opening statements tomorrow, Dec. 15. —Bethany Halford
https://cen.acs.org/research-integrity/misconduct/Harvard-Charles-Lieber-trial-China-daily-updates/99/web/2021/12?utm_source=Newsletter&utm_medium=Newsletter&utm_campaign=CEN