MIAMI – Jury selection in the corruption case against suspended Miami-Dade County Commissioner Joe Martinez got underway Wednesday morning. The process could go on for a week.
The judge told prospective jurors that they should be prepared for a possible two-week trial if selected.
Martinez was present in the courtroom along with his attorneys.
Each group of prospective jurors was asked if they were familiar with Martinez or had heard about the allegations against him.
Martinez was arrested in 2022 after prosecutors claimed he accepted payments from a local supermarket owner while serving on the commission.
In exchange, they say Martinez pushed a new county ordinance that would have benefitted the owner, who was having issues with code enforcement. In the end, that ordinance was never adopted.
Following his arrest, Martinez was suspended from his post by Gov. Ron DeSantis.
Martinez, a former Miami-Dade police lieutenant, has since announced plans to run for the newly-created position of Miami-Dade sheriff.
He’s charged with two counts of unlawful compensation and conspiracy and has pleaded not guilty.
Martinez has maintained that the charges against him are politically-motivated.