After the first day of jury selection in Donald J. Trump’s criminal trial saw the dismissal of dozens of potential jurors who said they could not be impartial, the first seven jurors were chosen on Tuesday as the defendant looked on. The challenges of seating a panel in Manhattan, a profoundly Democratic borough, were underscored as several potential jurors said they could not be unbiased. Mr. Trump is charged with falsifying nearly three dozen business records in an attempt to cover up a payment to a porn star, Stormy Daniels. If convicted, he could face probation or up to four years of prison time, although he maintains his innocence, calling the charges against him a “witch hunt.”
The trial is moving unexpectedly quickly as Justice Juan M. Merchan has kept things moving fast, swearing in another 96 prospective jurors on Tuesday. The seven jurors selected were told to return on Monday and if jurors continue to be seated at this pace, opening arguments are likely to begin that day. The prosecution had many questions for potential jurors, while the defense was concerned with their feelings about Mr. Trump. Mr. Blanche, the defense lead, reminded prospective jurors that Mr. Trump was innocent until proven guilty and hammered on their opinions about the former president.
Inside the courtroom, Mr. Trump has been warned about outbursts and so far has not caused any major disturbances. Outside the courtroom, however, Mr. Trump has taken to addressing reporters, bashing the case and the judge’s decisions in short bursts. This strategy continued on Tuesday morning when he criticized the trial, calling it unwarranted, and referred to Justice Merchan as a “Trump-hating judge.” While Mr. Trump has not caused disruptions inside the courtroom, there have been moments of bluster, such as when he muttered something under his breath during questioning.
Last month, Justice Merchan ruled that prospective jurors’ names would be shielded from the public, but several revealed potentially identifying information on their own, including their employers. Some disclosed sensitive information without any prompting from the judge. While the mood in the courtroom during jury selection was tense, there were still moments of humor that lightened the atmosphere. Prospective jurors shared amusing anecdotes, such as having dated a lawyer, or joking that they have no spare time for hobbies due to their busy schedules.
In this critical element of the trial, lawyers probed for potential biases or information that could help their case. The prosecution asked about the rule of law, flawed witnesses, and immunity deals, while the defense focused on potential jurors’ opinions of Mr. Trump. Justice Merchan has kept the process moving quickly, swearing in another round of prospective jurors to potentially seat a full jury this week. As the trial progresses, both inside and outside the courtroom, the dynamics and challenges of seating a jury in such a high-profile case continue to unfold.
