Large Jury Pool Expected for Tampa Trials

The courthouse in Tampa, Fla., may be a little crowded as a crush of potential jurors are expected for three major trials starting at the same time.

The Tampa Bay Times reports the jury services office mailed out 3,300 jury summonses, which is about 1,000 more than usual. Officials say only about a quarter of those who receive a summons show up, so they’re expecting around 900 potential jurors on Monday morning.

Jury services director Lisa Mann says all three trials are expected to be lengthy. The most publicized is the defamation trial brought by Tampa radio host Todd “MJ” Schnitt against rival Bubba the Love Sponge Clem.

The other trials include a family suing R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. and a murder case from 2002.