Jury selection remained underway Tuesday in the federal trial of Ryan Routh, the 59-year-old North Carolina man accused of attempting to assassinate President Donald Trump last year, with the court dismissing more than 70 prospective jurors as it works to seat 12 jurors and four alternates.
Judge Aileen Cannon, a Trump appointee presiding over the case, began moving through a third and final panel of prospective jurors as the court sought to assemble a full panel before opening statements, tentatively scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 11. By the end of the day, the court had dismissed more than 70 of roughly 180 potential jurors, many for expressing strong opinions about the president, having ties to law enforcement or citing other concerns about impartiality in a highly politicized case.
Routh has pleaded not guilty to federal charges including attempting to assassinate a major presidential candidate, assaulting a federal officer, possessing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, possession of a firearm and ammunition and possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number. Prosecutors allege Routh was armed with an AK-style rifle when Secret Service agents stopped him near President Trump’s West Palm Beach golf course on Sept. 15, 2024.
Courtroom proceedings on Tuesday highlighted tensions over Routh’s decision to represent himself. Cannon repeatedly admonished the defendant after he posed a series of off-topic or politically charged questions to prospective jurors, including inquiries about Ukraine, the war in Gaza and an unrelated hypothetical about how someone would react to finding a turtle in the road. Cannon told Routh that pro se status did not excuse him from following established courtroom procedures.
Jurors were dismissed for a range of reasons. Some said they held strong political views for or against the president; others disclosed connections to law enforcement or prior interactions with the defendant. The court granted an excusal Routh sought after identifying racist comments in a juror questionnaire. Cannon also denied Routh’s request to strike a potential juror who said he once had breakfast with the president and first lady while interviewing for a golf course superintendent position 25 years ago, saying the decades-old encounter did not disqualify the man and that he had stated he could be fair.
The pool has included other unusual disclosures. One potential juror said she stood up during questioning to declare, "I am MAGA… This is our president," then acknowledged she could not presume the defendant’s innocence. Another prospective juror said he was present at Routh’s arrest; a different person said he had received a voicemail from Routh two days before the alleged incident. Cannon removed 23 jurors from the third pool of 60 on Tuesday, leaving roughly 110 prospective jurors still under consideration across prior panels, according to court reporting.
Routh’s adult children were in the courtroom during selection. One son, identified in filings as Oran, is listed as a potential character witness though court records indicate he is currently jailed on unrelated charges.
If the court seats a full panel on Wednesday, attorneys have indicated opening statements will begin Thursday morning. The trial is expected to last several weeks, and Cannon urged both sides to conduct proceedings efficiently.
The case has attracted heightened public attention because of the charges and the high-profile target. Court officials have taken extra care during jury selection to screen for potential biases and conflicts that could affect the fairness of the trial. The next day of jury selection will determine whether the court can move promptly to opening statements or require additional panels to be summoned.