Eric Lewis was removed from the courtroom Tuesday morning as preparations continued for his second-degree murder trial.

In a hearing outside of the presence of the jury, Lewis’ attorney, Stuart Mills, told District Judge Paul Merritt Jr. that his client wanted a continuance.

Then Lewis took over, talking about an appeal dismissed by the Nebraska Supreme Court and how he had sent “a big ol’ box of stuff” to the federal court to appeal and was waiting to hear back.

“I don’t even feel this is ready to go to trial yet,” he said. “The prosecution has its witnesses, and I don’t have my witnesses.”

Lewis is accused of intentionally killing his doctor at the Lincoln Regional Center in 2007.

Deputy Lancaster County Attorney Andy Jacobsen objected to a continuance. Merritt denied it.

But Lewis’ voice kept building, and he wouldn’t let the judge get a word in.

“OK, Mr. Lewis, if you’re not going to settle down …” Merritt said.

But Lewis cut him off: “This is trial right now. I get to fight.”

Merritt asked guards to move Lewis to a jail holding cell, where he can hear and see what’s going on in the courtroom.

When the judge returned 15 minutes later, he said he tried to figure out what Lewis was talking about.

“It’s hard to understand when he doesn’t let me ask questions,” Merritt said.

The judge said Lewis could make a commitment to his attorney to act civilly and he would be brought back in.

Soon after, a group of 19 potential jurors came in, to be pared down to two alternates to hear the case with the 12 jurors chosen Monday.

But they never saw Lewis on Tuesday. Mills told Merritt that Lewis wanted to witness the afternoon testimony in person. Merritt was told Lewis would act civil, under certain, unspecified, conditions.

Merritt shot down the attempt.

“I’m not negotiating what does and does not constitute civility, Mr. Lewis,” Merritt said, speaking into a microphone feeding to the holding cell where Lewis sat most of Tuesday.

Reach Lori Pilger at 473-7237 or lpilger@journalstar.com. Cory Matteson contributed to this report.