[JURIST] Jury selection begins Tuesday in the CIA leak trial [JURIST news archive] of former vice presidential aide I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby [defense website; JURIST news archive] and attorneys for both sides plan to ask potential jurors questions about their political affiliations. US District Judge Reggie Walton [official profile] approved a final list of questions proposed by attorneys that will be asked of the group of 60 potential jurors over the next few days. Special Prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald [official website] also hopes to ask jurors what news sources they read, while defense attorneys plan to ask how the jurors feel about the war in Iraq and whether they believe the Bush administration lied to the American public about the reasons for going to war.

Libby is charged with perjury and obstruction of justice [indictment, PDF; JURIST report] in connection with Fitzgerald's investigation into the leak of former CIA operative Valerie Plame's identity. One of Libby's defense lawyers has indicated that his client plans to call [JURIST report] his former boss, Vice President Dick Cheney [official website], to testify and also plans to take the witness stand himself. Opening arguments are expected to begin Monday. AP has more.