Marathon bombing suspect is granted jury request

BOSTON (AP) — A federal judge has granted a request from Boston Marathon bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev (joh-HAHR’ tsahr-NEYE’-ehv) for jury records for Massachusetts federal courts over the past three years.

Tsarnaev’s lawyers asked for the records to determine whether a plan adopted in 2009 has corrected racial imbalances on juries. The changes followed a court challenge from two black defendants who said black citizens were underrepresented because they lived in neighborhoods where courts often didn’t have current addresses for residents.

Prosecutors do not oppose the request. Judge George O’Toole Jr. granted it Thursday.

The names and addresses of people called for jury duty will not be provided to the defense.

Tsarnaev has pleaded not guilty to 30 federal charges related to the 2013 bombings, which killed three and wounded more than 260.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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