Politics part of Palin-hack jury selection

KNOXVILLE, Tenn., July 1 (UPI) -- The lawyer for a Tennessee college student accused of hacking into Sarah Palin's e-mail wants to query prospective jurors about their political preferences.

Attorney Wade Davies has asked the federal magistrate in the case to approve a juror questionnaire he says will help prevent the trial from being influenced by partisan politics. Palin is the governor of Alaska and the 2008 Republican vice presidential candidate.

University of Tennessee student David Kernell is charged with illegally accessing Palin's Yahoo e-mail account in the midst of her campaign last year. Federal prosecutors contend he did so in hopes of finding politically damaging material.

The Knoxville (Tenn.) News-Sentinel said Wednesday Magistrate Clifford Shirley agreed not to release the 13-page questionnaire while he considers it; however, the prosecutor said at Tuesday's hearing the document did not focus much on the specifics of the case.