Utah Supreme Court rejects Kouri Richins' jury pull request

Kouri Richins, a Utah mother of three, who wrote a children's book about coping with grief after her husband's death and was later accused of fatally poisoning him, looks on during a hearing Wednesday, May 15, 2024, in Park City, Utah. Photo: AP Photo/Rick Bowmer, Pool

SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah Supreme Court has denied Kouri Richins’ request to pull jurors from both Summit and Salt Lake counties for her upcoming murder trial, which is scheduled to begin in April. The decision affirms the ruling of 3rd District Court Judge Laura Scott that denied Richins in-person interviews with potential jurors.

Richins’ legal team had argued that a multi-county jury would increase the odds of impartiality. They were initially granted in-person interviews by Judge Richard Mrazik, who is presiding over the case. However, Supreme Court justices agreed with Judge Scott, who ruled that jurors would only be pulled from Summit County.

According to the court, an opinion explaining the basis of the decision will be released later.