Michigan militia trial starting with jury picks

DETROIT (AP) -- Jury selection is getting under way in Detroit federal court, nearly two years after the dramatic arrest of people accused of belonging to a southern Michigan militia with a goal of rebelling against the government. The trial is expected to last weeks. It involves seven of the nine people charged with belonging to a group called Hutaree. The government says they conspired to try to kill a police officer and plotted further strikes. No one was ever attacked, and the defendants say they're being prosecuted for saying stupid things. Jury selection started Tuesday, a few weeks after prospective jurors filled out a 30-page questionnaire. One of the nine pleaded guilty to a weapons charge in December. Another defendant will face trial at a later date. Published: Wed, Feb 8, 2012