Jury Set For DiMasi Trial

BOSTON — A jury is now in place to consider the corruption charges against former Massachusetts House Speaker Salvatore DiMasi.

Prosecutors and defense lawyers on Tuesday accepted a panel of eight men and eight women — four are alternates. They were chosen from a pool of 250 prospective jurors.

The jurors have to be prepared to spend several weeks in court as the trial is expected to take two months.

DiMasi and two co-defendants are accused of scheming to win state contracts for Burlington software company Cognos in exchange for secret payments to DiMasi.

Before jurors return to court, Judge Mark Wolf wants a day to consider several motions about what evidence can be used and which witnesses can testify. Opening statements are scheduled for Thursday.