Boston Marathon bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev appeared in a Boston federal courtroom Thursday.
Tsarnaev, 21, faces 30 federal counts in the April 15, 2013, attack that left three people dead and more than 260 injured. He could get the death penalty if convicted. Thursday's hearing was the final meeting before jury selection on Jan. 5.
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People stood in line waiting to get into the courtroom. Courthouse security was increased.
Attorneys on both sides were expected to discuss the jury selection process with the judge and submit questions for potential jurors to be selected from a pool of at least 1,200 people.
U.S. District Judge George O'Toole Jr. denied an earlier defense motion to move the trial out of Boston. A second motion is pending.
Three of Tsarnaev's friends were convicted earlier this year on charges related to the bombing. Azamat Tazhayakov and Dias Kadyrbayev were convicted of conspiracy and obstruction of justice. Robel Phillipos was convicted of lying to federal agents about being in Tsarnaev's dorm room. All three men await sentencing.