Library shooting trial to take place in August or September

CLOVIS — The trial for alleged library shooter Nathaniel Jouett will likely take place in August or September and last at least a month, according to discussion at a status hearing Friday morning in District Court.

Chaves County Judge James Hudson presided over the public hearing in Clovis, attended in person by District Attorney Andrea Reeb and telephonically by defense attorney Stephen Taylor of Albuquerque.

Jouett waived his appearance for the Friday hearing. Hudson said he might require all parties in attendance at certain subsequent hearings, the next of which will be a status conference in early December.

Hudson told Reeb and Taylor he would send them additional recommendations for "milestones" in advancing the case to trial by September, to include determining if the venue will need to be moved to Portales, Roswell or elsewhere in the state.

Reeb said she believes the trial would last at least a month, noting 30 victims the state intends to call. That timeline doesn't include the potential addition of an amenability hearing, which would occur if Jouett, a juvenile, were not convicted of first-degree murder.

Two people were killed and four injured during the Aug. 28 shooting in which Jouett is the lone suspect.