Transcripts

KEVIN MCKIERNAN: The Wounded Knee trials of Dennis Banks and Russell Means resumed under heavy security in the federal courthouse in St. Paul. Means and Banks, charged under 10 felony indictments, face a possible total of 80 years in the trials now being held here in St. Paul.

This morning, the 14th prospective juror was chosen. She is Mary Joe Near, a 27-year-old insurance company analyst from St. Paul. Two jurors were excused this morning, a 42-year-old Red Wing farm wife and a Dodge Center real estate broker. Both were excused because the potentially long trial would interfere with their work and home lives.

In the morning recess, after the morning recess, that is, Judge Nichol will continue questioning a possible 15th juror, a Lois Schommer, a 19-year-old Inver Grove Heights circuit board assembler for a computer company. Judge Nichol has, through his interrogation this morning, determined that Ms. Schommer is-- has, that is, two aunts by marriage who are of Indian descent, one of whom teaches the Indian language in Minneapolis. This is the first potential juror to have any Indian kinship. This is Kevin McKiernan, from the federal courthouse in St. Paul.