Opening statements will begin on Wednesday, September 8th.
Holmes’ attorneys, federal prosecutors and Judge Edward Davila questioned more than 80 possible jurors in a San Jose federal courtroom over two days in particular, from the consumption of media related to Holmes, Theranos and the trial to the their feelings about law enforcement, and whether they or a loved one has experienced domestic abuse.
Holmes, who was present during the two days of interrogation and when the jury was selected, was charged more than three years ago with a dozen federal fraud and conspiracy charges on charges of knowingly misleading investors, patients and doctors about their abilities. proprietary technology blood testing company. She has pleaded not guilty and has up to 20 years in prison.
The trial, which has been delayed several times due to the ongoing pandemic and is postponed due to the birth of Holmes’ first child in July, is expected to last about 13 weeks.
A deluge of Holmes ’media coverage over the years, which has only increased before his trial, was a major concern for finding fair and impartial jurors. The numerous intertwined factors in the case, which affect health and technology, as well as allegations of intimate partner violence, also complicated the search for jurors who will ultimately determine Holmes ’fate.
(Among the defendants: a retired registered nurse married to a retired lab technician who knew the history of the company; a person who worked at Safeway, a former Theranos couple; another who said she was a lawyer representing survivors of domestic violence, she had listened to a podcast about the company with her husband, a scientist from a biotechnology company.)
In the company’s heyday, Holmes, 37, was the subject of much fascination. Abandoned at Stanford University with a declared fear of needles, she founded Theranos in 2003 at the age of 19 to revolutionize blood testing. He had raised hundreds of millions of dollars from high-profile people, including media mogul Rupert Murdoch, Oracle founder Larry Ellison, Walmart’s Walton family, and former Education Secretary Betsy DeVos. She was praised on magazine covers as the richest self-made woman and “the next Steve Jobs,” an image she helped cultivate by wearing the piece with her black turtleneck. At its peak, its launch was valued at $ 9 billion.
Many, however, were introduced anyway and further questioned on the matter. A potential jury said he had come down a YouTube “rabbit hole” about Holmes and Theranos; another said he had read “countless” articles about the company, acknowledging that he had formed a strong opinion before being summoned for trial. (Both were fired).
Possible jurors were also asked if they had any experience with intimate partner violence, many shared their own stories and some were thrilled as they recalled their stories.
Balwani and Holmes were charged together, but were pushed to be tried separately. His trial will begin in early 2022. (Balwani also pleaded not guilty and, according to a court record, “firmly denies” the abuse claims). Members of Balwani’s defense team were present throughout the jury selection.