Nodine trial begins next week in Dothan

DOTHAN, Ala. (WALA) - A jury in the murder retrial of former Mobile County Commissioner Steve Nodine is expected to be seated as early as Monday in Houston County, Ala.

Houston County court officials said jury selection will begin Monday morning.

At that point, five judges, including Judge Charles Partin, will select from a jury pool of more than 200 jurors.

Judge Partin moved the trial out of Baldwin County in June, nearly 200 miles away to Dothan, Alabama.

He believed all the local publicity had tainted the jury pool.

Houston County Law enforcement officials said next week is also trial week at the court house, and they plan on beefing up security.

"The security will tighten in reference to the crowd outside," said Capt. Antonio Gonzalez with the Houston County Sheriff’s Office. "Once they make entry into the building, like I said, the security will stay the same."

Nodine is accused of shooting his mistress Angel Downs outside her Gulf Shores condo.

Jurors were unable to reach a verdict in his first murder trial.

Now Nodine's fate will lie in the hands of jurors, many of whom authorities said likely have never heard of Nodine.

"The jurors will arrive at approximately eight o'clock," said Houston County Court Clerk Carla Woodall. "We will assemble them in one large room and give them general instructions." Woodall said. "Each judg,e when they are ready to begin their trial, they will notify me about how many jurors they want on their panel. At that time, the panel will be broken down based on the numbers they give me; and they will be sent to that courtroom."

Nodine's defense team is hoping that works to their advantage as the trial moves forward next week.

Until the jury is seated, however, Nodine and other parties involved in the case are prohibited from speaking about it after a judge issued a gag order earlier this month.

All parties are expected in town Sunday evening.