Kerry Kennedy Case Heads to Trial

Kerry Kennedy's case for an impaired driving charge is heading to trial, potentially starting in January.

Jury selection has been scheduled for Jan. 22, 2014. It was a decision made after Kennedy, her attorneys and prosecutors with the Westchester County District Attorney's office met with North Castle Town Justice Elyse Lazansky for a quick appearance Tuesday evening at the town's courthouse in Armonk.

The trial itself would start after jury selection is made, her attorney William Aronwald said.

Her court appearance is likely the last one to be held in the building, as alternative locations are being sought for the trial.

Talking to reporters, Aronwald described lack of security, as well as no provisioning for a jury room, as being factors.

The defense has suggested White Plains' city court, Aronwald said, although it is unclear whether Lazansky could preside over the trial if it is in another municipality. Any jury selected would be from North Castle, he said.

Aronwald stated that Lazansky's preference is for the trial to stay in North Castle but it is not clear what other spaces are suitable since there are no other buildings in town that serve as a courthouse.

Kennedy, a Bedford resident, left quickly after her appearance and had family with her. She was accompanied by Molly Kennedy, who is Douglas Kennedy's wife and lives near by in Mount Pleasant.

Douglas Kennedy, who was acquitted after a Mount Kisco trial last fall over an alleged altercation with two Northern Westchester Hospital nurses after he tried to take his newborn son outside for fresh air, is in civil litigation with them. He and Molly Kennedy are co-plaintiffs in a countersuit that they subsequently initiated.

Aronwald was asked by a reporter about how his client is doing.

“She's anxious to put this behind her. She's anxious to have her day in court and have the case tried,” he replied.

Kerry Kennedy is facing an impaired driving charge in connection with an alleged collision between her vehicle and a truck in July 2012 on the North Castle stretch of Interstate 684. Kennedy, who subsequently tested for the drug Zolpidem, has stated that she took it by mistake prior to driving, and that she meant to make a thyroid medication that she also had.