Potential Jury Tampering Issue Raised in King Trial : Court: Judge to decide whether an inquiry is warranted into a claim that an NAACP member approached a group of prospective black panelists.

As a second day of jury selection began in the trial of four police officers charged in the beating of Rodney G. King, allegations surfaced Thursday that a small group of prospective black jurors may have been improperly approached by a courthouse monitor affiliated with the NAACP.

Superior Court Judge Stanley M. Weisberg ordered prosecutors and defense attorneys to appear this morning before saying whether he will open an official inquiry into the incident.

“Whether or not this constitutes jury tampering is a legal question,” said Michael Stone, the attorney for indicted Officer Laurence M. Powell. “But as you know, that is against the law.”

The outcome could have a major impact on the case. King, a black motorist, was allegedly beaten by the four white officers in an incident that had racial overtones. With a black population of 2% in Ventura County, the removal of any black jurors would make it more difficult to seat a jury that is racially mixed.

The allegations arose from a story published Thursday in the Star-News of Pasadena in which James H. Smith, identified as a Simi Valley member of the National Assn. for the Advancement of Colored People, acknowledged “introducing” himself to seven potential jurors who are black.

Smith could not be reached for comment Thursday. But the Rev. Robert Harris, a Simi Valley minister who attended Wednesday’s jury selection proceedings with Smith, said Smith did nothing improper.

“He said he didn’t do it,” said Harris, also an NAACP monitor. “He’s denying all these allegations.”

Jose DeSosa, president of the NAACP’s San Fernando Valley branch and of the organization’s California State Conference, said his group is conducting its own inquiry into the allegations.

He said NAACP representatives are monitoring the case only to see that a fair trial is held and have no intention of influencing the outcome.

“We have no intention of speaking to any potential jurors, be they white, black or brown,” DeSosa said.

On Thursday, 282 potential jurors came to the courthouse, and 163 were asked to return today with completed questionnaires gauging their attitudes about the highly publicized case. On Wednesday, 207 possible jurors were summoned to the courthouse, and 114 were asked to fill out the questionnaires.

Powell, Sgt. Stacey C. Koon and Officers Timothy E. Wind and Theodore J. Briseno have all pleaded not guilty in the case.