[JURIST] A twelve-person jury was selected Monday to sit in the CIA leak trial [JURIST news archive] of former vice presidential aide I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby [defense website; JURIST news archive]. Even though jury selection began last Tuesday and was supposed to conclude Thursday the process was extended [JURIST reports] as too many of the original 60 jurors were dismissed on the grounds that they could not set aside their views on the Bush administration and the war in Iraq. Ultimately, nine women and three men were selected, along with four alternates; four of the active jurors oppose the Iraq war. Opening statements, originally slated for Monday, are now set to begin Tuesday, with Special Prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald [official website] expected to speak for one hour and defense attorney Theodore Wells [official profile] expected to speak for two hours. AP has more.

Libby is charged with perjury and obstruction of justice [indictment, PDF; JURIST report] in connection with the investigation into the leak of former CIA operative Valerie Plame's identity. Libby's defense team has indicated that they plan to call [JURIST report] Libby's former boss, Vice President Dick Cheney [official website], to testify and that Libby also plans to take the witness stand himself. US District Judge Reggie B. Walton has denied a request [JURIST report] from several news organizations seeking the daily release of audio recordings of arguments and testimony.