A federal appeals panel says publicity hasn't jeopardized Boston Marathon bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev's right to an impartial jury.

The ruling allows jury selection and opening statements to proceed next week as scheduled in Boston where the deadly explosions occurred almost two years ago.

The 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals panel says in its 2-1 ruling Friday that the trial judge correctly denied Tsarnaev's requests on three occasions to move the trial. The panel says the jury selection process that began almost two months ago has been thorough and appropriately conducted to expose any bias.

A defense attorney did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The prosecution declined to comment.

The April 15, 2013, bombings killed three people and injured more than 260

More From WBSM-AM/AM 1420