Does the city really think a Seattle or Tacoma jury is gonna save the day when a Portland jury won't? I mean, really, the city of Portland doesn't want its own residents -- who will ultimately be responsible for any potential verdict -- sitting in judgment of its own cops.

They are probably betting that the recent, tragic police shootings in south Seattle will cause a jury to sympathize with the Portland cops in this case and overlook the facts about what happened that night. If that is the case, that speaks volumes about the strength of Portland's case and the quality of the legal thinking going into this lawsuit.

I think the City just finally understands that the hatred for cops in this town is nothing but a tainted jury pool. I would guess the trial would just become a media circus with the Indymedia types & protesters.

Yeah, but how much would you bet that the cop union will send over a couple of busloads of Thumper supporters?

Does anyone really believe a fair trial is possible in Portland on this case? And isn't that really what's important -- a fair trial -- and not a confirmation of prejudice one way or the other? Here, we appear to be aligned with either "Indymedia types & protesters" or "Thumper supporters." We shouldn't want either on a jury.

Jack's comment above is really attached to the note yesterday about cameras at the Ninth Circuit. Here we are, the rest of the world, sitting in the 21st Century where information is a lively active commodity, traded & shared by the millisecond. The shallow legal envelope which thinks it can reserve it's natural juices and contain it's ivory tower perfect pitch is just laughable.

There's a difficult-to-shake and persistent wrongness to law for the sake of law which is only counterbalanced by superb politicians. Somehow there's always a surplus of one and a lack of the other.

This hocus pocus about bias because of the media will melt away after a 2-month trial that explores every angle of this case in mind-numbing detail. The motion is a waste of time. There is very little chance the judge will grant it; and a jury in Washington or Idaho isn't going to get the city a better result anyway.

The only thing it will accomplish is take up a lot of lawyer time and, potentially, cost everyone a lot of money in hotel and travel expenses for the better part of 2 months. Maybe they could go by streetcar!

"And isn't that really what's important -- a fair trial"

The bill of rights does not exist for the benefit of the city (the government) except in an upside down world view. Thumper is not on trial, facing any loss of liberty. If the jury pool here is anything like the grand jury pool what could the city possibly be worried about? I would instead be demanding a sanction against the city for even bringing the motion. If the Chasse advocates sought a change of venue because Portlander's hate the mentally ill, as evidenced by the lack of prosecution of the killer, then it might make some sense.

Have some pity for the city that is spewing out a bucket of crocodile tears! Sheesh. Let's declare a "Hug a Thug Day."