Jodi Arias Trial Update Today: Jodi Arias returned to court Friday as her lawyers prepared for a second penalty phase. Last year, Jodi Arias was convicted of murder for the 2008 killing of her lover Travis Alexander in Arizona. Last year, the Jodi Arias jurors were not able to a unanimous decision on her case. Friday's proceedings were closed. The sentencing phase of Arias' trial is scheduled to begin on September 8, 2014. The next hearing is set for July 1.

The MC Superior Court Tweeted "State v Jodi Arias has begun. Judge Stephens set the next hearing for July 1. All other matters will be conducted in a closed proceeding."

RadarOnline.com posted a photo of Jodi Arias in her black and white striped prison uniform. Arias' lawyers are fighting to have cameras banned in her upcoming hearings.

Under state law in Arizona, Arias' murder conviction stands. Prosecutors have the option of putting on a second penalty phase with a new jury to pursue a death sentence. If the second Jodi Arias jury still fails to reach a decision, the death penalty will be removed from consideration. The judge will then sentence Arias to life imprisonment. Jodi Arias would be will be eligible for release after 25 years in jail. The second penalty phase is set for September.

Jodi Arias' lawyers Kirk Nurmi and Jennifer Willmott, have been trying to delay the final phase of the trial.

Jodi Arias, a former waitress and aspiring photographer, admitted to killing Travis Alexander, her then boyfriend at his suburban home in Arizona. But Jodi claimed she did it in self-defense. Alexander was stabbed 27 times, his throat was slit and he was shot in the forehead. Prosecutors say Arias killed Alexander in a fit of rage after Alexander said that he wanted to end their relationship. Medical examiners say that the murder took less than 2 minutes.

Prosecutors will also argue whether mitigation testimony by specialist Maria De La Rosa, a Sheriff's investigation will be allowed in the Jodi Arias trial. Early this year,

De La Rosa was temporarily banned from visiting Jodi Arias at the Estrella jail in south Phoenix after officials accused De La Rosa of smuggling one of Arias' drawings out of jail.

The Jodi Arias retrial was pushed back because attorney Juan Martinez is will be prosecuting in another trial that conflicts with Arias' trial. According to the Arizona Republic, Juan Martinez is scheduled to begin the trial on May 12, the oldest capital murder case in Maricopa County, which may also be a death penalty trial.  Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Joseph Welty ruled the trial of Bryan Hulsey, who was accused of killing a police officer in the Phoenix area in 2007 will go first.
Judge Sherry Stephens denied two motions by Jodi Arias to fire her lead attorney, Kirk Nurmi.

Because of the excessive publicity, Jodi Arias attorneys have already filed motions requesting that the sentencing phase of the trial be moved out of the Phoenix area. Jodi Arias' lawyers filed a motion for a change of venue after finding that 70 percent of the media coverage in the state started in Maricopa County. Lawyers also want Jodi Arias trial live stream television coverage prohibited for the retrial.