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.
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Former Sen. Jeffrey Woodburn is pictured in Coos Superior Court in this file photo. Behind him is Senior Assistant Attorney General Geoffrey Ward. (Nancy West/InDepthNH)
LANCASTER, NH The jury that will hear domestic violence-related charges against Jeffrey Woodburn of Whitefield was selected Wednesday in Coos Superior Court almost three years after he was arrested while still a sitting state Senator.
Woodburn, 55, a popular Democrat who lost the election following his arrest amid calls for his resignation from members of his own party, sat in the courtroom with his attorney Donna Brown of Manchester Wednesday during jury selection, but spoke only with Brown.