A high-profile police corruption trial begins in Miami federal court, but almost all of the attention focuses on only one of the 65 prospective jurors -- singer Gloria Estefan.

  BY LARRY LEBOWITZ

  Prospective Juror No. 17, dressed in a smart business suit and sporting stylish wraparound shades, arrived at the Miami federal courthouse Thursday
  clutching more than her summons.

  International superstar Gloria Estefan was the only person who brought a personal bodyguard to jury selection -- even though the bodyguard didn't have
  a summons.

  Estefan, 46, nearly landed on the jury of a high-profile police corruption case: the retrial of four Miami officers charged with violating the civil rights of a
  career criminal who was beaten during an arrest seven years ago.

  Prosecutors tried but failed to persuade the judge to strike the singer from the jury because her presence would create a ''circus'' atmosphere. At the end
  of the day, prosecutors used a juror challenge to excuse Estefan and send her home to Star Island.

  ''Hallelujah!'' the Cuba native exclaimed under her breath as she boarded a courthouse elevator with her bodyguard and two deputy U.S. marshals in tow.

  While she was ready and willing to serve, Estefan totally agreed with the decision.

  ''If I were a defendant in a trial, I wouldn't want a celebrity on the jury,'' she said during juror questioning, explaining that star-struck jurors might go along
  with her point of view in deliberations even if they didn't really agree with her.

  She acknowledged that emotionally she has a problem with defendants who fail to take the stand in their own defense. But she quickly added that
  intellectually she could put those nagging questions aside if the judge ordered her not to hold it against the accused officers.

  Drawing a parallel to the additional responsibilities she carries as a public person, Estefan said she believes police should be held to a higher standard as
  well.

  Three of the four officers in the Alexander Anazco beating case were also involved in last year's major police scandal, in which officers were accused of
  planting guns on suspects to cover up wrongful shootings. Officers Jesse Aguero and Jorge Castello were convicted; the jury could not reach a unanimous
  verdict on Officer Jorge Garcia, who faces a retrial in that case next month.

  Aguero, Castello, Garcia and Officer Wilfredo Perez face up to five years in prison if found guilty of violating Anazco's civil rights.

  Twelve citizens were eventually impaneled. Opening arguments are set for 10 a.m. today before U.S. District Judge Cecilia M. Altonaga.

  Estefan spent much of her day in courthouse corridors, cheerfully signing autographs and chatting with several jury-pool members while they waited to be
  called.

  ''She's everyday people,'' said Verma Johnson, a Miami nursing home administrator who also was dismissed from the panel. ``If you didn't know who she
  was.''