You're listening to a special bonus series of the Your Own Backyard Podcast, titled

People vs. Flores, a weekly recap of the murder trial of Paul and Ruben Flores.

Since filming and audio recording aren't currently allowed inside the courtroom, these

episodes will recount handwritten notes taken by host Chris Lambert, breaking from our typical

documentary format in an effort to get updates out as regularly and succinctly as possible.

These recaps will likely contain subject matter that may be graphic and disturbing to some

listeners.

Your discretion is advised.

On June 13, over 1,500 prospective jurors filed into the Salinas Courthouse, broken

up into groups throughout the day.

It was the largest jury pool in Monterey County history.

Each potential juror was asked to fill out a questionnaire, noting any financial hardships,

scheduling conflicts, or other personal conflicts that could prevent them from sitting on the

jury.

People with no conflicts were allowed to leave as soon as they turned in their finished

questionnaire.

The rest of them sat, filling three separate courtrooms, as Judge Jennifer O'Keefe asked

follow-up questions, and eventually dismissed anyone with a legitimate hardship, including

lack of reliable transportation, surgeries that could not be rescheduled, or non-refundable

vacations that had already been scheduled and paid for.

Over the next four days, 1,500 prospective jurors were whittled down to 390.

270 of them were instructed to return on June 20 to potentially be seated for Paul

...