Here’s one way to get out of jury duty. A potential juror wearing a Bruins jersey at the Aaron Hernandez murder trial was sent home from court today after yelling “Go Pats!’’ according to reporters at court.

One potential juror showed up this AM with a Bruins jersey on, screaming "Go Pats!" He was told to leave. No SPORTS gear is allowed. @NECN — Kathryn Sotnik (@kathrynsotnik) January 9, 2015

No Patriots or other NFL attire is allowed in the courthouse during his trial, a Superior Court judge ruled in December. That ruling has now extended to all sports attire. Boston Globe’s Maria Cramer reports that a man wearing a Red Sox sweatshirt was told to turn it inside-out, and a man wearing a Nets hat was told to remove the cap.


Friday marked the first day that potential jurors were called to court for the high-profile trial. About 125 potential jurors were told they could still be chosen to serve for the case even if they had previously heard reports about it. Openly rooting for the Patriots, though, was a deal-breaker.

About 1000 people are expected to be brought in to court as potential jurors in the case.

Hernandez, the former star Patriots tight end, is accused of killing 27-year-old Odin Lloyd in June 2013 in an industrial park in North Attleborough. He has pleaded not guilty.