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Militia trial starts in Michigan with jury picks

This combo of eight photos provided by the U.S. Marshals Service on Monday March 29, 2010 shows from top left, David Brian Stone Sr., 44, of Clayton, Mich,; David Brian Stone Jr. of Adrian, Mich,; Jacob Ward, 33, of Huron, Ohio; Tina Mae Stone and bottom row from left, Michael David Meeks, 40, of Manchester, Mich,; Kristopher T. Sickles, 27, of Sandusky, Ohio; Joshua John Clough, 28, of Blissfield, Mich.; and Thomas William Piatek, 46, of Whiting, Ind., suspects tied to Hutaree, a Christian militia. Jury selection is getting under way in Detroit federal court Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2012, nearly two years after the dramatic arrest of people who authorities say belonged to a southern Michigan militia with a goal of rebelling against the government. The trial is expected to last weeks. It involves seven of the nine people charged with belonging to a group called Hutaree. The government says they conspired to try to kill a police officer and plotted further strikes. No one was ever attacked, and the defendants say they're being prosecuted for saying stupid things.( AP Photo/U.S. Marshall)

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By ED WHITE, The Associated Press 12:51 PM Tuesday, February 7, 2012

DETROIT — A judge is asking potential jurors what they think about the use of confidential informants as jury selection starts in the trial of seven people accused of conspiring to rebel against the government as members of a southern Michigan militia.

Detroit federal Judge Victoria Roberts wants to have a final jury pool of 50 by next Monday. The process began Tuesday with brief courtroom interviews.

The trial is expected to last weeks. It involves seven of the nine people charged with belonging to a group called Hutaree (hoo-TAH'-ree), including one man from Ohio. The government says they conspired to try to kill a police officer and plotted further strikes. No one was ever attacked, and the defendants say they're being prosecuted for saying stupid things.

There's been one guilty plea in the case.

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February 07, 2012 05:49 PM EST

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