San Diego

The laborious process of selecting a jury in the felony retrial of San Diego Mayor Roger Hedgecock moved incrementally closer to completion Thursday as attorneys eliminated three prospective jurors who they believed would not be inclined to support their respective sides of the case.

Thursday’s session, the sixth day of jury selection in the case, marked the first instance in which Deputy Dist. Atty. Charles Wickersham and defense attorney Oscar Goodman were able to exercise so-called peremptory challenges, used by attorneys to remove jurors who they feel may be biased either for or against a defendant.

During earlier stages of the selection process, the competing attorneys needed the approval of Superior Court Judge William L. Todd Jr. to remove 24 other jurors “for cause”--generally because they conceded that they entered the case leaning toward either conviction or acquittal because of the extensive publicity about the trial.

However, each attorney can exercise 10 peremptory challenges in which he does not need to justify --and, more importantly, does not need the judge’s approval of--his reason for wanting an individual juror removed. Rather, peremptory challenges can be used to eliminate jurors who, because of their background or answers to questions, are viewed by attorneys as unsympathetic to their side of the case.

For example, Leo Bodin, one of two jurors removed by Wickersham on Thursday, had told Goodman earlier that he believes that “individuals need protection against the powers of the state.” While Wickersham did not specify his reason for removing Bodin, that comment undoubtedly influenced his decision. Goodman used only one peremptory challenge Thursday, but has said that he expects to use all 10 challenges when jury selection resumes next week.

Hedgecock faces 15 felony conspiracy and perjury charges and one misdemeanor count, most of which stem from alleged illegal personal and campaign aid that the mayor received from J. David (Jerry) Dominelli and Nancy Hoover, former principals in the bankrupt La Jolla investment firm of J. David & Co.