Jury selection begins in ex-mayor's trial

NEWARK, N.J., Feb. 26 (UPI) -- Jury selection began Tuesday in the trial of the former mayor of Newark, N.J., on charges of helping a woman friend buy city land at discount prices.

The trial of former Mayor Sharpe James and Tamika Riley in federal court in Newark is expected to take two to three months, the Star-Ledger of Newark reported. Many of the more than 100 potential jurors said that they could not serve that long.

Riley, a publicist, allegedly bought city property and flipped it quickly.

Members of the jury pool filled out lengthy questionnaires. They were asked about their knowledge of the charges, whether they would be prejudiced if they heard testimony about an extramarital affair and if they would be biased because both defendants are black.

James, a former physical education teacher, was mayor of New Jersey's largest city from 1986 to 2006. From 2000 to 2008, he also served in the state Senate.

He withdrew from the 2006 mayoral race, apparently fearing that he would lose to Cory Booker, a young lawyer who had come close to beating him four years earlier.