Dale Warner: Round 1 of Jury Selection is Complete

Dale Warner. Photo by Tracy Stengel.

The first round of jury selection for Dale Warner’s murder trial ended today. Ninety-six jurors advanced to the second and final round which is expected to begin Tuesday, February 10, 2026. Both the prosecutor and the defense attorney said they were comfortable with that number.

During the first round, there was a questionnaire to fill out. After receiving juror instructions from Judge Olsaver, potential jurors were brought in the courtroom individually. The prosecutor would begin questioning. The most typical questions were: Have you heard of the case? How? Do you have an opinion? Do you know anyone on the witness list? Have you served on a jury before? We will be showing pictures and videos on a screen, do you have trouble with your vision or hearing? We will be showing autopsy photos, some of which are gruesome, will you have an issue with that? Have you ever been a victim of domestic violence or been accused or domestic violence?

The defense attorney frequently asked these questions: How will being a juror on a 7-week trial impact your life? Are you working or going to school? Will your employer pay you while you are on jury duty? What do you do for a living? Do you have any medical appointments or vacations planned in February or March? Do you have trouble sitting for long periods? Do you know anyone in the Warner, Hardy, or Bock family?

Round one took 8 days to complete. Round two is expected to begin and end Tuesday, February 10, 2026. The potential jurors will be brought into the courtroom in groups.

The prosecution and the defense still have 18 peremptory challenges each. They can use them to dismiss potential jurors without giving a reason.

Tomorrow morning, there will be a Daubert and motion hearing. A Daubert hearing is where a judge evaluates the validity of an expert’s testimony before a jury hears it. In this case, it is a paint expert who has examined the top layer of paint on the anhydrous ammonia tank where Dee’s body was found.

Tomorrow afternoon, there will be a motion hearing that is sealed and not open to the public.

Opening statements are expected to begin Wednesday, February 11, 2026, at 10:30.

For background information of the case, you can start here.