Prosecutors and defense lawyers in the upcoming Palisades arson trial have jointly requested the court expand the pool of potential jurors for the upcoming trial, given the magnitude of the event and the inescapable news coverage of the tragedy.
Jonathan Rinderknecht has pleaded not guilty to three federal arson charges that accuse him of igniting the smaller Lachman fire on Jan. 1, 2025, which the ATF says reignited 6 days later and caused the Palisades Fire.
The lawyers said in the filing Tuesday they agree a fair and impartial jury can be found in Southern California, so long as “certain modifications” are made to the more typical jury selection process.
“The parties jointly stipulate and request that the Court modify the usual jury selection process by: (1) sending prospective jurors a written questionnaire in advance of trial; and (2) summoning a larger pool of prospective jurors,” the filing said.
After a hearing last year Rinderknecht’s defense attorney, Steve Haney, mused about whether a local jury could be fair to his client, given the effect the fire has had on the community.
Haney then said maybe a local jury would be advantageous because part of his defense will be to ask jurors to consider the role of the local government in failing to extinguish the Lachman fire or slow the spread of the Palisades Fire.
Tuesday’s filing proposes a Feb. 11 hearing to discuss the jury considerations.
Rinderknecht is being held with no bail and his trial has been set for April.
Allison Craig is a passionate sports writer and analyst with a deep love for game strategies, player performances, and the latest trends in the sports world. With years of experience covering football, basketball, tennis, and more, she delivers insightful analysis and engaging content for sports enthusiasts.
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