The Jury Selection Process
A jury of 12 New Yorkers has been seated in former President Donald Trump’s historic hush money trial in Manhattan. The selection process took place over the course of the third day of the trial, with two empaneled jurors being dismissed in the morning and seven new jurors chosen in the afternoon. The final jury is composed of seven men and five women, with up to six alternates still to be selected. The presiding judge, Juan Merchan, expressed hope that the selection process will be completed by Friday.
Dismissal of Jurors
One juror was dismissed after expressing concerns that her identity had been made public by the media. In response, the judge ruled that the media cannot publish jurors’ answers to questions about their employers. Another empaneled juror was excused after prosecutors raised doubts about the truthfulness of his answers during questioning by attorneys. These dismissals highlight the importance of maintaining the anonymity and impartiality of jurors in high-profile cases.
Questioning by Lawyers
The day began with a panel of 96 potential jurors, which was gradually narrowed down to 38. Some were quickly dismissed for admitting bias or inability to be impartial, while others were excused due to conflicts of interest. After further questioning, 18 jurors remained in the jury box. Prosecutor Joshua Steinglass asked the potential jurors if they believed that prosecutors had more to prove because the defendant is Donald Trump. He also asked them to consider whether they could look Trump in the eye and say “guilty” if the case is proven. Trump’s attorney, Susan Necheles, focused on the issue of conflicting witness testimony and asked if the jurors understood that someone must be lying if two witnesses give opposing accounts. She also inquired about social media posts related to Trump.
Excusal of Jurors for Cause
Following the lawyers’ questioning, both sides raised challenges to have potential jurors dismissed for cause, thus avoiding the use of peremptory strikes. The judge granted two dismissals for cause, one because the juror admitted bias and the other due to negative social media posts about Trump. However, a request to dismiss a potential juror who knew Necheles was denied. Both the prosecution and the defense used all of their peremptory strikes, exhaustively considering the composition of the jury.
Trump’s Presence in Court
During the jury selection process, former President Trump turned his chair and faced the jury box while lawyers asked questions. He observed the prospective jurors closely as some expressed disagreement with his policies or personal dislike for him. Trump’s active presence in court underscores the significance of this trial and its impact on his reputation and legacy.
Next Steps
On the following day, a new panel of potential jurors will be sworn in and the selection of alternates will continue. Additionally, there will be a hearing regarding Trump’s alleged violation of a gag order, which was issued to prevent him from making statements about witnesses, jurors, prosecutors, court staff, or their family members. The trial is progressing steadily, with each day bringing new developments and insights into this historic case.
