Judge orders questionnaire for potential jurors in upcoming manslaughter trial

NORTH HERO – Lawyers have been asked to help draft a questionnaire that could be used to weed out potential jurors with a conflict of interest in the upcoming manslaughter trial of a St. Albans woman charged with killing one motorcyclist and critically injuring another last year.

Judge Mary Morrissey said she understands there has been considerable news coverage and community interest in the criminal charges filed against Ellen E. Willson, 39, of Federal Street.

Willson has pleaded not guilty in Vermont Superior Court in North Hero to several charges, including involuntary manslaughter and two counts of gross negligent operation: one with death resulting and one with serious bodily injury, all from the June 15, 2025, crash.

The judge asked Grand Isle County State’s Attorney Doug DiSabito and defense lawyer Richard McCormick last Thursday to have their potential questions for the questionnaire submitted by Tuesday of this week.
Morrissey said they would be used to help determine if people had prejudged the criminal case and could not put those opinions aside.

A 10-page, 35-question survey was used to weed out potential jurors this month in Chittenden County in the case of a Burlington man charged with three counts of attempted murder for wounding three Palestinian college students in 2023 in a high-profile case that attracted national and international attention.

Morrissey told the lawyers she would meet with them again Oct. 15 to see what the questionnaires had uncovered.

Morrissey said she was not inclined to move the planned Nov. 5 jury selection date. She said about 200 potential jurors have been ordered to report to the historic courthouse in North Hero. She said about 114 had responded as of last week.

The judge said the questionnaires need to be sent out promptly so residents can respond and return them for a proper review by the court and lawyers before Thursday, Nov. 5. Some potential jurors could be notified not to report depending on their answers.

Morrissey questioned whether the lawyers would be ready to start the trial the following morning, Friday, Nov. 6, or wait until the following Monday. She noted a holiday in the middle of the following week could disrupt the flow of the trial.

The two sides said they would be willing to consider starting Monday, Nov. 16, so the trial would not be interrupted. They estimated it might take up to five days for the trial.

DiSabito said he was concerned that some summoned potential jurors might not show up. He noted about half the people were missing from the last jury draw day in North Hero in July.

Potential jurors failing to appear when ordered face possible contempt of court proceedings and a civil fine of $200.

In the high-profile trial of Franklin County Sheriff John Grismore, which was moved to North Hero, a judge ordered Grand Isle County Sheriff Ray Allen to go out onto U.S. 2 by the courthouse and stop motorists to locate potential jurors. It helped fill out the jury.

Hunter Rounds, 20, of Grand Isle was killed in a head-on crash when Willson’s southbound 2019 Chevrolet Silverado crossed the double yellow line on U.S. 2 in North Hero near Savage Point Road about 1:45 p.m. on Father’s Day last year, Vermont State Police has said. Rounds died at the scene.

Willson also struck the victim’s father, Jason Rounds, 51, of Grand Isle, who was on a second motorcycle, police said. He was seriously injured in the crash and taken to the UVM Medical Center in Burlington with multiple injuries. Rounds underwent several surgeries and was eventually discharged, officials said.

Morrissey opened the pretrial hearing last week by saying she assumed both sides had completed all witness depositions.

DiSabito said unfortunately not, and then outlined what he said appeared to be McCormick’s lack of progress in preparing the case.

The prosecutor said the deadline for the defense submitting its witness list was Jan. 26 and the deadline for depositions was March 1. He said another judge had ruled that the deadlines would be extended only for extraordinary cause and if put in writing. There has been nothing, he said.

DiSabito reported that during a Feb. 19 hearing, the state noted that no depositions had been taken and the defense then asked for 90 more days. The judge granted 60 days.

DiSabito said the state noted at an April 30 hearing that no depositions had yet been taken. The defense asked for another extension and the judge agreed to extend to May 15, DiSabito reported.

DiSabito said the defense still has not provided its witness list so the state has been unable to ask for any depositions.

He said the defense also has never identified its expert witness and recently said it planned to use Crash Lab Inc. of New Hampshire as its expert. DiSabito said the court rules require a specific name so the person can be deposed ahead of time on what might be said at trial.

DiSabito said he made the defense aware that he plans to rely on veteran Vermont State Trooper Seth Boudreau as the prosecution’s expert, but they have not deposed him yet.

Boudreau is a member of the VSP’s Crash Reconstruction Team, was the lead investigator and the defense has been on notice since the crash that he was a key witness, DiSabito said. Boudreau’s credentials have been made available, he said.

McCormick complained that the state is seeking a lengthy penalty, but DiSabito said there has been no discussion about a plea deal and the defense had made no inquiry.

DiSabito said the state had made clear it was willing to make available to the defense for review both Willson’s truck and her cellphone, which were seized by investigators at the scene. Instead, the defense has been fighting for the cellphones of the motorcyclists, he said.

DiSabito said failing to enforce the court’s orders could set a dangerous precedent by signaling that compliance with deadlines is optional and putting ties that follow the rules at a disadvantage.

DiSabito asked the court to enforce its order and prevent the defense from making last-minute changes.
McCormick tried unsuccessfully earlier this summer to get the charges dismissed and to have the trial moved out of Grand Isle County. He said he may ask again to move the trial.

Judge Navah Spero agreed with the prosecution to reject both requests, but left the door open to reconsider moving the trial if there was trouble picking a jury.