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Potential jurors in Kealoha case line up at Blaisdell

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Video by Craig T. Kojima
More than 400 people are expected at Neil S. Blaidsdell Center in Honolulu today for jury selection for the trial of Honolulu Police Chief Louis Kealoha and his wife Katherine Kealoha, the former Honolulu deputy prosecutor.
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CRAIG T. KOJIMA / CKOJIMA@STARADVERTISER.COM

Potential jurors in the trial of former Honolulu Police Chief Louis Kealoha and his wife Katherine lined up this morning outside the Neal S. Blaisdell Center’s Pikake Room.

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CRAIG T. KOJIMA / CKOJIMA@STARADVERTISER.COM

Potential jurors in the trial of former Honolulu Police Chief Louis Kealoha and his wife Katherine lined up this morning outside the Neal S. Blaisdell Center’s Pikake Room.

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CRAIG T. KOJIMA / CKOJIMA@STARADVERTISER.COM

Former Honolulu Police Chief Louis Kealoha and his wife Katherine Kealoha walked towards federal court, April 30, in Honolulu. Dozens of potential jurors lined up outside the Neal S. Blaisdell Center’s Pikake Room this morning in an extraordinary federal court proceeding to select jurors in the trial of former Honolulu Police Chief Louis Kealoha and his wife Katherine Kealoha, the city’s former deputy prosecutor.

Some 413 potential jurors filled the Neal S. Blaisdell Center’s Pikake Room today in an extraordinary federal court proceeding to select jurors in the trial of former Honolulu Police Chief Louis Kealoha and his wife Katherine, the city’s former deputy prosecutor, and three current and former HPD officers.

J. Michael Seabright, the Chief United States District Judge for Hawaii, is presiding over the case and told those gathered in the Pikake Room that he plans to impanel 12 jurors and four alternates.

Opening statements could then begin on May 22 or May 23 in U.S. District Court on Ala Moana Boulevard, Seabright said.

“Obviously we couldn’t fit everyone into a courtroom for today’s proceedings,” Seabright told those who gathered to fill out juror questionnaires in the Pikake Room, which has a posted capacity of 689 people.

“This is the most I’ve ever had,” Seabright said from a podium on stage while the Kealohas and their attorneys watched from the front row.

The Kealohas appeared at today’s juror selection after being accused of defrauding banks and relatives to fund their lavish lifestyle.

Prosecutors say Katherine Kealoha stole money from her grandmother and an uncle. Prosecutors say when they threatened to expose the fraud, Kealoha tried to have her grandmother declared incapacitated and framed her uncle for a mailbox theft.

Reporters are barred from speaking to potential witnesses and photography was restricted today.

All other aspects of the jury selection process are expected to be handled later this week at federal court on Ala Moana Boulevard, Seabright said.

>> View more photos from today’s jury selection process at Neil S. Blaidsdell Center in our gallery.

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