Carona case jury search set for Jan.

Thousands of county residents will receive jury summonses next month as a federal judge begins the search for an impartial panel to decide the fate of Sheriff Michael S. Carona, his wife and his longtime mistress.

Judge Andrew Guilford said Monday that he hopes that 200 residents will have schedules that accommodate a 30-day trial next summer. He said he hoped to give attorneys the opportunity to interview potential jurors in May.

Carona’s defense attorney, H. Dean Steward, said he thought it would be difficult to find a fair jury because he believes many residents have made up their minds. “I think we are going to be losing jurors in droves,” Steward said.

-- Garrett Therolf