PORT TOWNSEND — Jefferson County Superior Court Judge Craddock Verser called on lawyers Monday to work toward seating a jury in the Michael J. Pierce double-murder case by Wednesday.
In the first round of jury selection, Verser, the prosecuting attorney and Pierce’s public defender trimmed the panel of potential jurors to 28.
Today, 50 potential jurors in a second selection round will be called from the pool to fill out questionnaires and give attorneys their reasons for not being seated as jurors.
“We’re going to pick a jury on Wednesday,” said Pierce’s public defender, Richard Davies, after a number of jurors were questioned and dismissed from jury duty for reasons ranging from fairness to health issues.
Verser agreed saying, “Wednesday morning, we ought to select a jury by noon.”
Courtroom security
Potential jurors and others attending courtroom proceedings were run through metal detectors before entering Verser’s courtroom by two courtroom deputies with the Sheriff’s Office.
Inside, the blinds were drawn in the historic courtroom and the lights were turned on, another security measure.
Two deputies stood guard at the front of the courtroom where Pierce sat in a blue suit and tie with his legal team.
Verser ordered the potential jurors to not read newspapers or watch TV accounts of the case and urged them to even avoid overhearing lawyers in the courthouse possibly discussing the case.
Scott Rosekrans, Jefferson County chief deputy criminal prosecuting attorney, sat before the bench Monday, taking turns with Davies in examining selected potential jurors who raised concerns on questionnaires about whether they read or heard pretrial publicity or discussion and could still remain fair and impartial on a jury panel.
Couple killed in March 2009
Pierce, 35, of Quilcene, who has been held in Jefferson County jail in Port Hadlock without bail for nearly a year, is charged with the March 18, 2009, slayings of Patrick, 60, and Janice Yarr, 57, at their Boulton Farm Road home north of Lake Leland.
The trial could begin early next week after a 12-member jury with two alternates is seated in the case.
Investigators in the case said the farmhouse was set ablaze to cover up the murders. Bullet fragments found at the scene indicated that the victims were shot in the head.
Pierce was being held without bail, which the Jefferson County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office successfully argued for after the public defender contended that $1 million bond should be reinstated for Pierce under the state Constitution.
In addition to arson and two counts of murder, Pierce has been charged with robbery, burglary, theft of a firearm, unlawful possession of a firearm and theft.
Prosecutors say they have video of Pierce using the Yarrs’ credit card at a bank automatic teller machine.
A stolen ATM card is not proof of burglary of the Yarrs’ home, Davies has contended.
In his prior criminal history, he has outstanding warrants for such crimes as attempting to outrun authorities.
The Yarrs owned Pat Yarr Logging and Yarr Cattle Co.
Pat Yarr had worked as a log trucker across the North Olympic Peninsula since the early 1960s, and the family had lived in Forks and Chimacum before settling in Quilcene.
Janice Yarr also worked as a bookkeeper for Seton Construction of Port Townsend.
Their memorial service drew 700 mourners.
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Port Townsend-Jefferson County Editor Jeff Chew can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at jeff.chew@peninsuladailynews.com.
