A jury was chosen Monday in the Federal civil rights trial former Jefferson County Jailers Dwayne Johnson and Bryan Doyle.
Plaintiff John Franklin claims his 14th Amendment rights were violated when he was arrested on December 1st, 2007 on charges of Public Intoxication.
Franklin claims that jailhouse video shows him being repeatedly punched in the throat and shocked with a tazer more than 20 times.
Attorney Brian McGiveren says the two jailers used excessive force on his client, Franklin.
But the Attorney representing Doyle and Johnson, Mitch Templeton, says Franklin was on a meth binge and was fighting four to five officers.
The plaintiff's attorney asked jurors simple questions. Perhaps his biggest question was whether his client's arrest for public intoxication would sway their verdict.
The defendants' attorney took a stronger approach, saying that his clients had their career ruined by the lawsuit. Both Doyle and Johnson have been fired by the county.
He then asked if the fact that the plaintiff had been shocked more than 20 times would influence their decision.
Franklin was escorted to and from court by Harris County Sheriff Deputies. His attorney says Franklin is be held at the Harris County Jail on unrelated charges.
Judge Keith Giblin told the seven jurors that were chosen to return for opening statements at 8:30 Tuesday Morning.
