A jury of 12 has been selected to hear the Philadelphia trial of John "Jordan" Lewis, the 23-year-old North Philadelphia man charged with murder in the Oct. 31, 2007 shooting that killed police Officer Chuck Cassidy.

Defense and prosecution lawyers and Common Pleas Court Judge Jeffrey P. Minehart selected the 12th juror shortly after 2 p.m. today after three days last week reviewing 200 prospective jurors.

The lawyers began this morning with a new group of 125 prospective jurors. Minehart said jury selection continued today and tomorrow until six alternative jurors are selected, an insurance policy for a death penalty trial that is expected to last three weeks.

If the lawyers can find six alternates, Minehart said, opening statements would be Thursday.

The Criminal Justice Center and city courts are closed Wednesday for the Veterans Day holiday.

The jury selection process is protracted because of the difficulty assembling a panel of people willing to consider imposing the death penalty if they find Lewis guilty of first-degree murder.

The problem is finding people willing to consider imposing the death penalty - but who are not predisposed for or against it.

If the jurors find Lewis guilty of first-degree murder, they would begin a second proceeding to hear evidence about factors - aggravating aspects of the crime, and mitigating points in Lewis' background or personality - that they must weigh in deciding whether to sentence him to death.

Under Pennsylvania law, if the jury votes against a death sentence, or cannot decide, Lewis is automatically sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole.

Lewis is charged with murder and six armed robberies. The last robbery - a Dunkin' Donuts shop on North Broad Street near 66th Avenue - was interrupted when Cassidy walked in the door.

Cassidy, 54, a veteran of 25 years with the city police force, was shot in the head and died the next day.