From [HERE] and [HERE] Jury selection in the federal civil rights trial of three white undercover police officers accused of beating and wrongfully arresting an 18-year-old black student at the city's performing arts high school appeared to be moving swiftly Monday. Most of the jury questioning was conducted in U.S. District Judge Gary Lancaster's chambers. The judge had previously ordered that, indicating potential jurors would be more forthcoming when asked about their knowledge of the case and any racial or other biases they might hold if they were not asked such things in open court.

Jordan Miles, now 20, claims the officers accosted, chased and beat him for no reason other than he was a young black man walking in a high-crime area. The jury consists of six jurors and two alternate jurors. Lawyers for both sides selected them from 65 people whom the court called for jury duty from 13 counties in Western Pennsylvania. Out of the total jury pool only three were black, all men. The eight person jury selected has only one black person; five are men and three are women. Apparently there are no Latino jurors. 

Jordan claims undercover officers approached him without articulable suspicion. Officers chased him when he ran and when they caught up with him they beat him into submission by delivering violent blows that left his face swollen and distorted. Police also used a stun gun and pulled out a chunk of his hair. The officers put him in handcuffs, and repeatedly shoved his face into the snow, causing a piece of wood to impale his gums, Miles has said. He is 5-foot-6 and 150 pounds and was unarmed. No weapons were found. He suffers from permanent brain damage. [MORE]