Massachusetts Jury Selection for Lindsay Clancy Murder Trial Involves Extensive Personal Questionnaires

More than 300 potential jurors in Plymouth County were screened with a comprehensive questionnaire that asked about personal experiences with postpartum depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder and any family history of mental illness, according to court filings. The questionnaire also sought information on whether respondents or their relatives had interacted with the mental-health system and whether they could remain open to the defense’s insanity argument.

After completing the forms, each candidate appeared before Judge William Sullivan, defense attorney Kevin Reddington and assistant district attorneys Jennifer Sprague and Shanan Buckingham for a private interview. Candidates who indicated they could not remain impartial were excused, and several jurors left the process in tears after discussing graphic details of the case, court observers reported.

Reddington said the purpose of the questioning was to identify “fair people” who could evaluate the evidence without bias. The final jury pool consists of 12 women and six men, though only 12 jurors will ultimately deliberate.

Separately, the defendant’s ex-husband, Patrick Clancy, filed a motion to keep his 911 call, crime-scene photographs and the children’s clothing from public view. Judge Sullivan granted the request, limiting media access to those materials while allowing them to be shown to courtroom participants.

The defense also moved to limit testimony from first-responders who attended the scene, arguing that their prior grand-jury statements would be prejudicial. The judge indicated he will consider the necessity of each such witness before they testify. Opening statements are scheduled to begin Monday.

The trial will focus on whether Lindsay Clancy was experiencing postpartum psychosis at the time of the killings, a point the defense emphasizes, while prosecutors contend she acted with full awareness and planning.