Megan Boswell Trial Jury Selection Update
Sullivan County, Tenn. – In a critical update on Thursday, Megan Boswell made an appearance in Sullivan County court. The session was available for live streaming, with Judge James “Jim” Goodwin presiding. The hearing focused on a much-debated motion to bring in a jury from a different county, a change legally referred to as “change in venire.”
The defense team for Boswell has continually argued for either a change in venue or the venire to ensure a fair trial. They claim the high level of public and media attention on the case makes it impossible to find an impartial jury locally. On the other hand, the state holds a different view. Prosecutors argue that surveys they have conducted prove it’s still possible to find an unbiased jury within Sullivan County.
Judge Goodwin instructed both parties that the court must first try to assemble a neutral jury from Sullivan County before considering other alternatives. “I think that the process that we’re required to do is we have to attempt to pick a jury in Sullivan County before we make a ruling on whether or not we go to another county,” Goodwin said.
Upcoming Deadlines and New Charges
The timetable is tight. Goodwin plans to have a jury selected by December. If an unbiased jury cannot be found locally, the court will look to another similar-sized county to fulfill this requirement. The next court date is set for November 1, 2024.
Meanwhile, the stakes have escalated for Boswell. She faces a new first-degree murder charge, adding to the multiple charges she’s already battling. This latest indictment in June 2024 comes over four years after her initial arrest. Her grimly significant charges include two counts of felony murder and several others stemming from the tragic death of her toddler, Evelyn Boswell, discovered in Blountville in March 2020.
Her attorney, Gene Scott, emphasized the demand for an impartial jury. “I want a fair jury. I don’t care if we pick it here, if we pick it in Memphis or Knoxville. I want a fair jury that’s going to listen to the facts and not be influenced on what they’ve heard in the news media and the things they read on Facebook.”
Challenges in Jury Selection
A major hurdle remains in jury selection: finding jurors willing and able to be sequestered for the trial, which could last three to four weeks. Scott expects this aspect to be a critical part of the process. Deputy District Attorney William Harper shared Scott’s sentiment, pointing out the district attorney’s office’s efforts to ensure local jurors meet the fairness criteria. “We have deliberately not released a lot of information to you guys, to the general public, and the goal was to hopefully be able to pick a jury here in Sullivan County,” Harper said.
During the court hearing, Megan Boswell appeared calm but attentive, listening to the ongoing discussions about her case’s future. While the situation is far from resolved, both the defense and prosecution seem resolved to proceed cautiously yet thoroughly.
Expectations from Both Legal Teams
Scott remains optimistic, “Once this case is tried, we’ll prove her innocence. I have no doubt that that girl is innocent.” Supporting him is Michael Templeton, a retired Drug Enforcement Administration agent heavily involved in Boswell’s defense. Templeton emphasized the importance of not jumping to conclusions without seeing the full evidence. “There’s only a handful of people who’ve seen the evidence in this case. Nobody out there, if you’re trying to form an opinion, you haven’t seen any of the case, but we have.”
He anticipates that the evidence presented in court will exonerate Boswell, revealing that it has been misinterpreted by both the District Attorney’s office and the Tesla Bureau of Investigation. Templeton further highlighted, “Anybody can be indicted, including a former president of the United States. It doesn’t mean anything. What happens inside the court is what means something.”
Continued Custody and Trial Delays
Megan Boswell has remained in custody since her initial arrest in February 2020 for allegedly making false reports. Several factors have contributed to the delays in her trial, including a change in her defense team in 2022, following her difficult relationship with her former court-appointed attorney. Gene Scott is now her legal counsel, taking on the responsibility to steer her case towards what he hopes will be a positive outcome.
The next few months are vital for both the defense and the prosecution as they prepare for what could be a lengthy and high-profile trial. All eyes are on Sullivan County to see if an impartial jury can genuinely be assembled from its residents. This decision will significantly shape the future of the Megan Boswell case.
