Why It Matters
The proposed juror screening process tests how Vermont courts manage high-profile criminal cases involving significant media attention and community emotion.
What Happened
David Sleigh, the attorney for Tate Rheaume, asked Judge Susan McManus to allow him to question prospective jurors about their knowledge of the case before he formally pursues a change of venue. The request came during a Monday hearing in Rutland Superior criminal court.
Rheaume, 23, faces charges including aggravated murder for driving his pickup truck into a police cruiser on July 7, 2023. The collision killed Jessica Ebbighausen, a 19-year-old Rutland City police trainee, and occurred on Woodstock Avenue in Rutland while another officer pursued Rheaume.
Sleigh argued that extensive media coverage raises concerns about selecting an impartial jury in the county. He proposed sending an initial questionnaire with two or three questions to prospective jurors. Sleigh stated this would likely weed out potential jurors, allowing remaining candidates to receive a more elaborate questionnaire.
“I think it’s an efficient way to address the enormous amount of publicity this case has generated, and the strong feelings that appear to exist in a large number of people in Rutland County,” Sleigh told the judge.
Daron Raleigh, the Rutland County Deputy State’s Attorney, said Monday was her first time hearing the proposal and she was not prepared to approve it. Judge McManus issued no decision and scheduled another hearing in two weeks.
By the Numbers
July 7, 2023 — Date of the pursuit that ended in a fatal collision.
19 — Age of Jessica Ebbighausen at the time of her death.
23 — Age of Tate Rheaume.
Two or three — Number of questions Sleigh suggested for the initial juror questionnaire.
Two weeks — Time until the next scheduled hearing on the venue and screening issues.
Zoom Out
The case has been delayed while a separate defense issue worked through the legal system. Sleigh previously sought authority to introduce details from an internal affairs report finding officer misconduct by other officers in the pursuit. A Rutland judge denied the request to introduce the report, and the Vermont Supreme Court upheld that ruling in August.
Rheaume pleaded not guilty to several offenses related to the incident. The prosecution filed a motion opposing the change of venue earlier this year, while Sleigh submitted a motion to move the trial out of Rutland County due to media attention.
What’s Next
Judge McManus will hear further arguments on the juror screening proposal and the change of venue request at the next hearing scheduled in two weeks. The outcome will determine whether the trial proceeds in Rutland County or moves to a different jurisdiction, and how potential jurors are evaluated for impartiality.