Attorneys for Kouri Richins have filed a new last-minute motion to move her Summit County murder trial to Salt Lake County, arguing that a flood of juror questionnaires shows the local jury pool is steeped in the case. The filing comes just days before jury selection is set to begin. Richins has pleaded not guilty to multiple felony charges tied to her husband’s March 2022 death.
Questionnaire Returns Raise Alarm, Defense Says
Out of 1,723 juror questionnaires returned, the defense says 1,472 people, about 85.3%, recognized the case, and 884 of those respondents, roughly 60%, reported following it "somewhat or very closely." According to KSL, only 251 potential jurors said they had never heard of the case, and the defense argues many of those are still likely to be excused for cause once questioning gets underway.
Venue Fight Has A Long History
The new motion is the latest round in a long-running fight over where the high-profile trial should be held. Third District Judge Richard Mrazik previously denied a request to move the case out of Summit County, and the Utah Supreme Court declined to take up the defense appeal. KPCW reported the high court said jurors must be drawn from Summit County and that state rules do not require in-person selection in another county.
Trial Timetable Presses The Issue
Jury selection is scheduled to start Feb. 10, with several days of voir dire planned before a multiweek trial window later in the month. KSL noted that the fresh batch of questionnaire responses landed as the court was gearing up for that juror screening process.
Charges And Legal Stakes
Richins is charged with aggravated murder and attempted murder, along with drug distribution, insurance fraud, and forgery counts. Prosecutors allege she killed her husband in March 2022 by serving him a fentanyl-laced cocktail. AP News and court records state she faces several felony charges in this case, plus a separate set of mortgage fraud and forgery charges that will be tried in a different proceeding.
What Happens Next
The judge is expected to weigh the new motion before voir dire begins Feb. 10 and could change the schedule or move the trial if the court decides the juror questionnaires show the Summit County pool is compromised. KPCW has previously reported that logistics and format of voir dire, including whether potential jurors appear remotely or in person, are likely to shape how the trial proceeds if it stays in Summit County.
