Ex-Sen. Woodburn trial underway three years after arrest
By Nancy West - InDepthNH | May 11, 2021
LANCASTER – Former state senator Jeffrey Woodburn’s trial on domestic violence charges against his former fiancée Emily Jacobs got underway Monday in a courtroom that was closed to the public and press who were ordered to watch it live-streamed from an adjacent room.
Four reporters; Woodburn’s girlfriend, Patty Dwyer; another supporter of Woodburn’s and a supporter of Jacobs were seated in a courtroom next to where the trial was taking place in Coos County Superior Court.
The first day of trial was live-streamed into the adjacent courtroom and another courtroom in Grafton County Superior Court, but only the jurors and the parties involved were allowed in-person testimony. Judge Peter Bornstein denied motions from InDepthNH.org and the Berlin Sun to open the trial to the public and media.
LANCASTER â The long delayed trial of former State Sen. Jeff Woodburn is set to get underway Monday, May 10, in Coos County Superior Court. Attorneys spent much of Wednesday picking a jury for the upcoming trial.
The 55-year old Woodburn has pleaded not guilty to two counts of domestic violence, four counts of simple assault, two counts of criminal trespass and one count of criminal mischief. All of the charges are misdemeanors.
Defense Attorney Donna Brown of Manchester and Senior Assistant Attorney General Geoffrey Ward questioned more than 30 potential jurors Wednesday before a final jury was picked by 3 p.m.
Brown focused a number of questions on whether a potential juror would have a problem with a man claiming self-defense in a case where he was attacked by a woman.