An upcoming federal murder trial in which prosecutors are seeking the death penalty is expected to last at least six weeks, and it will involve more detailed jury selection than is typical.

Accurately assessing people’s attitudes toward capital punishment will be a critical aspect of the jury selection process in the Rejon Taylor trial, Assistant U.S. Attorney Steve Neff said, adding that normal trial procedures are always “a bit different” when someone’s life is on the line.

Usually the domain of state judicial systems, death penalty cases are extremely rare in the federal system. The trial is scheduled to begin Aug. 25.

The case of Mr. Taylor, who is charged with the kidnapping and shooting death of an Atlanta restaurant owner in 2003, is set to be the first one in the history of Eastern Tennessee’s federal court district in which capital punishment is being pursued.

Mr. Taylor, 24, sat quietly in federal court Friday with his four defense lawyers by his side for a final pretrial conference at which jury selection and other housekeeping issues were discussed.

He also is accused in a separate case of orchestrating a jailbreak attempt from the Hamilton County Jail in 2006 while awaiting his federal murder trial.

Potential jurors will be asked general questions as a large panel. Then they will break into groups of five, and more specific questions about their feelings on the death penalty will be asked.

Mr. Neff said the smaller groups could help mitigate bias against an entire panel of jurors should someone voice an “extreme” opinion about the death penalty.

Anyone who would refuse to impose the death penalty under any circumstances will not be chosen, Mr. Neff said, adding that jurors will be instructed to impose such a punishment if Mr. Taylor is found guilty and certain factors regarding the crime are found to be true.

In their notice of intent to seek the death penalty, prosecutors argue Mr. Taylor had a “reckless disregard for life” in the Aug. 6, 2003, killing of Atlanta restaurant owner Guy Luck when he and two others kidnapped the businessman from the parking lot of his restaurant in the Buckhead neighborhood.

Mr. Luck’s death resulted from an “intentional killing,” prosecutors note in the document, after he was driven to Collegedale by his kidnappers and shot by two of them. Prosecutors said they believe the bullets fired from Mr. Taylor’s gun caused the victim’s death.

Defense attorney Bill Ortwein maintains the circumstances surrounding the crime do not warrant the death penalty.

“We believe there is evidence to dispute” the government’s allegations, Mr. Ortwein said, declining to give further details.

Sir Jack Matthews and Joey Marshall pleaded guilty in 2006 to carjacking resulting in death, a firearms murder during a carjacking, kidnapping resulting in death and a firearms murder in relation to a kidnapping.

Mr. Taylor is charged with the same crimes. Mr. Matthews and Mr. Marshall are expected to testify against their alleged co-conspirator as part of their plea bargains.

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