“I want you to look into your heart”

“I want you to look into your heart”

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That’s what Cook County Circuit Judge Vincent Gaughan told potential jurors on Monday. ap02060604208-rkelly-chris-omearaMany jurors struggled with whether they could be fair given what they’ve heard about R. Kelly. One man said his grandchild was molested by a family member and that would affect him if chosen as a juror. Questioning each juror often lasted up to a half an hour. Three were chosen Monday by 5 p.m. Outside of the courthouse was quiet. Supporters and critics of Kelly took a break from rallying outside. There wasn’t a swarm of media. Most of us waited our turn to actually go into the jury room. Security at the courthouse was tight as Fort Knox. One woman said she thinks about the Pied Piper when she hears R. Kelly’s name. She said she also thinks about the beef between Kelly and Jay-Z. This was obviously post-the dynamic duo’s collaborations. Talk about foreshadowing. The court ushered potential jurors into a jury room with Gaughan, the defense and prosecutors. Kelly often sat in the room with his head down. Sometimes he covered his nose with a tissue. Perhaps some people simply wanted to get out of their civic duty. One man claimed his health ailment was an aversion to sitting down for long stretches of time. Fortunately, he doesn’t have to take medicine. The judge assured him that there would be breaks.