BOSTON — The selection of a jury for the long-awaited trial of reputed Boston crime boss James “Whitey” Bulger may end up being most notable for how routine it appears despite the notoriety of the case and the outsized tales of the man at its center.
Jurors in the Bulger case won’t be sequestered, unlike some other high-profile organized crime trials. However, the seated jurors will be referred to by numbers, and their identities won’t be revealed until after the verdict is announced.
Perhaps the biggest challenge will be finding 18 people who can spend the next four months hearing testimony about a long list of allegations against Bulger, including charges that he played a role in killing 19 people. Three of his former cronies began cooperating with the government after authorities revealed that Bulger, now 83, had been a longtime FBI informant. Bulger fled Boston in 1994. He was captured in 2011. Opening statements are expected to begin Monday.
