Jury Selection Continues in the R. Kelly Child Pornography Trial

The R. Kelly child-pornography trial continued on Monday, still focused on the business of selecting a jury. The R&B star has pleaded not guilty to charges that he videotaped himself having sex with a girl who could have been as young as 13.

Several prospective jurors admitted during questioning that they had preconceived notions about the case, according to a report by the Chicago Tribune. One man, a married father of two, said he struggled with the nature of the charges and believes the singer is guilty. Another interviewee said he realized that he might favor Kelly because of his celebrity status. Both promised, however, that they would give him a fair trial.

The exhaustive jury questionnaire is at least 139 questions long, according to the Tribune, with such inquiries as whether the prospective juror thinks rich people are treated differently by the justice system, what they know about the case, and whether they would be able to assess the case fairly—even if it involves “urination in a sexual context.” In the videotape at the center of the trial, a man is shown urinating on a young woman.

Stay tuned this week as Essence.com blogs from inside the courtroom.

Credit: AP Images