FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (CBS12) — Judges will hear all kinds of reasons from people who want to get out of jury duty.
That includes the trial of Nikolas Cruz who confessed to killing 17 people at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland on Valentine’s Day in 2018. He pleaded guilty to the killings last October.
Now, a jury, once selected, will hear evidence in the penalty phase of the trial before a judge makes a decision on whether Cruz should get life in prison or the death penalty.
Jury selection began on Monday and during the initial questioning, one woman told the judge she had a scheduling conflict.
Then the woman told Broward County Circuit Judge Elizabeth Scherer she couldn’t be on the panel because of her “sugar daddy.”
“Then again, I need to figure out something,” the woman said. “I have my sugar daddy that I see every day.”
Scherer responded, “I’m sorry?”
“My sugar daddy,” the woman replied.
“I’m not sure what you’re talking about,” responded the judge.
“I’m married and I have my sugar daddy,” the woman said.
Judge Scherer eventually excused her.
Jury selection resumes on Monday.