12 jurors chosen for Brown's murder trial

After five days during which attorneys questioned about 100 prospective jurors, the defense and prosecution finalized the 12-person jury who will hear evidence in the murder trial of James Degorski, charged with first-degree murder in the 1993 slayings of seven people at a Palatine Brown's Chicken and Pasta.

Degorski's co-defendant, Juan Luna, was convicted of the murders in 2007 and sentenced to life in prison.

Jurors selected Friday include a mechanic in his mid-20s who counts "Cops" and "Court TV" among his favorite TV shows; a corrections officer who works at Cook County jail; a woman in her 20s who works for a managed care company; a computer programmer who had read about the case and formed opinions but said he could put them aside; and a lieutenant with the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District in Stickney.

Earlier Friday, a 19-year-old college student seated earlier this week as a juror was removed for cause after he informed the court he feared that serving on the jury could cost him his federal work-study job, which requires him to be a full-time student.

The Illinois Institute of Technology student had said earlier in the week he was willing to take the semester off to serve on the jury. But on Friday he informed the court that doing so would make him ineligible for work-study.

During a hearing Friday morning before Cook County Judge Vincent M. Gaughan, IIT officials said the school would grant the student leave and would reserve any scholarships he had received. Additionally, officials said the school would not collect on any student loans he had obtained from the school.

Jury selection continues Saturday, when attorneys will begin selecting four alternates.