Jury selected in Scannell trial

Ten men and four women were selected Monday in Duluth to decide Cook County Attorney Tim Scannell’s sexual misconduct case.
The panel, which includes two alternates, was chosen from a group of more than 40 potential jurors following an entire day of questioning.

According to WTIPs Martha Marnocha, at the St. Louis County courthouse, attorneys will first place some rulings on the record before making opening statements to the jury beginning at 8:30 this morning.

The prosecution is scheduled to call its first witnesses after opening statements. The case is expected to conclude by the end of the week.

The Duluth News Tribune reports Scannell, 48, is charged with two felony counts of fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct over a physical relationship he had with a 17-year-old girl in August 2012. He is accused of kissing and touching the girl sexually — allegations he has essentially conceded — but the case hinges whether he was in a “position of authority” over the girl at the time.

Seven of Scannell’s family members, including his wife and two sons, were in the courtroom gallery Monday, seated immediately behind the defense table.