Sen. Nicole Mitchell's burglary trial: Jury selected, opening statements begin Tuesday

Jury selected for Sen. Nicole Mitchell burglary trial

The jury was selected Monday for the trial of Senator Nicole Mitchell, accused of burglarizing her stepmother's home to retrieve personal belongings of her father, who had just died at the time.

DETROIT LAKES, Minn. (FOX 9) - The burglary trial of Sen. Nicole Mitchell began Monday with jury selection. 

Mitchell, who represents Woodbury, faces a count of first-degree burglary and possession of burglary tools for allegedly breaking into her stepmother's home in Detroit Lakes in 2024. 

Watch live:

FOX 9 will live stream the trial, from opening statements until a verdict is reached, on FOX LOCAL Mobile, YouTube and in the player above. The trial stream will be on a 10-minute delay, per court rules. The trial stream will begin after a jury is seated. 

You can find live updates on the trial below. 

4:52 p.m. - Jury selected, opening statements scheduled

A jury has been selected for Mitchell's trial Monday evening. Opening statements are set to begin at 9 a.m. on Tuesday. 

1:27 p.m. - Jury selection continues

Jury selection continues Monday. A pool of 80 jurors was called and filled out questionnaires, but no potential jurors were dismissed based on the questionnaire. Group questioning has been conducted, but no jurors have been dismissed yet. 

The court is looking for a total of 15 jurors, including three alternates.

11 a.m. - Jury selection underway

The court took a break until 11 a.m. The judge expects jury selection to go until 4:30 p.m. on Monday. Court officials believe jury selection is expected to go into Tuesday. 

There are about 80 people in the jury pool. 

8:30 a.m. - Mitchell trial begins

Sen. Mitchell's trial is expected to begin at 8:30 a.m. on Monday, with jury selection. 

Opening statements could come as early as Monday afternoon or Tuesday morning. FOX 9 will start streaming the trial live with opening statements.

Sen. Mitchell trial: Jury selection starts Monday

The criminal trial for state Sen. Nicole Mitchell is set to begin Monday morning with jury selection. Sen. Mitchell, who represents Woodbury, is accused of breaking into her stepmother?s home in Detroit Lakes in 2024. FOX 9?s Se Kwon has more on what to expect.

Sen. Nicole Mitchell charges 

Dig deeper:

A criminal complaint states that Detroit Lakes police responded to a reported burglary at a home around 4:45 a.m. on April 22, 2024.

At the scene, police found Mitchell in the home's basement dressed in all black. Officers say they also found a flashlight covered with a black sock on Mitchell. Officers searched for a black backpack that was stuck in a window at the scene and recovered two laptops, a cellphone, a driver’s license, Senate identification and miscellaneous Tupperware, according to the complaint.

Sen. Nicole Mitchell's trial begins Monday

Minnesota state senator Nicole Mitchell is set to face trial this week over her burglary arrest in northern Minnesota.

Mitchell reportedly told investigators she was "just trying to get some of my dad's things" and added "clearly, I'm not good at this." 

The complaint states that Mitchell explained to police that her father had just died, and she wanted sentimental items her stepmother refused to give to her.

Mitchell said those include her father's ashes, pictures, clothes and other sentimental items.

Defense expert says Nicole Mitchell 'has to testify'

Questions remain ahead of the jury selection for Minnesota Sen. Nicole Mitchell, who is accused of breaking into her stepmother's home in Detroit Lakes in April 2024. Paul Applebaum, a defense attorney who is not connected to the case, said Sen. Nicole Mitchell "absolutely has to testify."