Executive Summary
- Former Greensboro officer Matthew Hamilton is on trial for manslaughter regarding the 2022 death of Joseph Lopez.
- Judge David Hall denied a defense motion to move the trial venue, opting to attempt jury selection in Guilford County.
- Courtroom attendance has been limited to four family members per side due to space constraints.
- Jurors may wear masks due to flu concerns but must remove them when answering questions.
Jury selection has commenced in the trial of Matthew Hamilton, a former Greensboro police officer charged with manslaughter in connection with the 2022 fatal shooting of Joseph Lopez. The proceedings began on Monday at the Guilford County Courthouse under the supervision of Judge David Hall.
Hamilton faces charges stemming from an on-duty incident that occurred on June 6, 2022, resulting in the death of Lopez. According to the defense, the courtroom was heavily attended by law enforcement supporters on the opening day, prompting the judge to dismiss a portion of the public due to insufficient seating capacity.
During pre-trial motions, the defense team argued for a change of venue to Forsyth or Alamance County and sought a delay until March. Defense attorneys cited the limited size of the courtroom and potential jury bias caused by recent protests outside the courthouse criticizing law enforcement actions. They also noted health concerns regarding a local illness outbreak as a factor for the request.
Judge Hall denied the motion for a venue change, opting to proceed with a “wait and see” approach to jury selection to determine if an impartial panel can be seated locally. Addressing the health concerns, Judge Hall acknowledged a flu epidemic and permitted masks but clarified they are not a requirement. He stipulated that potential jurors choosing to wear masks would be asked to remove them while answering selection questions. Attendance during this phase has been restricted to four family members for the state and four for the defendant.
Legal Procedural Outlook
The court’s decision to deny the venue change places significant emphasis on the voir dire process to filter out potential bias resulting from local publicity and recent demonstrations. By adopting a “wait and see” strategy, the court is adhering to standard judicial procedures that prioritize seating a jury within the jurisdiction where the alleged crime occurred before considering alternative venues. It is important to note that all individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
