By Alabama Public Radio
Birmingham, AL – A judge has ordered strict secrecy measure for jury selection in the upcoming trial of former HealthSouth CEO Richard Scrushy. Federal Judge Karon Bowdre issued rules Thursday, threatening criminal charges for anyone who contacts a juror before the end of the case. Bowdre said Thursday the trial could last two months and could include 50 witnesses and hundreds of thousands of documents. Prosecutors say Scrushy was behind a massive fraud that overstated HealthSouth earnings by about $2.6 billion to meet Wall Street expectations. Scrushy has pleaded not guilty to a 58-count indictment. He remains free on $10 million bond. The judge said jurors' identities cannot be revealed to the public before the trial concludes, and jurors will be referred to only by numbers in court. She said attorneys will select a jury of 12 members and six alternates on January 13. Opening statements are scheduled to begin January 18.