like atmosphere that has surrounded other recent high-profile cases in the United States. U.S. District Judge Lynwood Smith ordered the opening session of the jury selection closed to the public and said the identities of those summoned for duty would not be revealed until after the trial. In addition to the Birmingham bombing, Rudolph is also accused of planting a deadly bomb at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta and setting off explosions at an abortion clinic and gay and lesbian club in and around the Atlanta area. Two people died and more than 100 others were wounded in the string of attacks. The Justice Department decided the Alabama case was the best chance of convicting Rudolph, who was caught in North Carolina in 2003 after five years on the run. U.S. Attorney Alice Martin, who is spearheading the prosecution, is expected to portray Rudolph as a white supremacist who bombed the clinic out of hatred for abortion rights supporters. --More 2312 Local Time 2012 GMT
