The jury selection process for the criminal trial of former US President Donald Trump has proceeded quickly, with seven jurors already selected from Manhattan to hear the New York case against him. The trial is expected to begin with opening statements on Monday, with prosecutors focusing on selecting jurors who can set aside any preconceived notions and follow the judge’s instructions. Trump faces 34 counts of falsifying business records related to payments made to cover up an alleged affair with Stormy Daniels before the 2016 election.
The selected jurors so far include two attorneys, an oncology nurse, a software engineer, a schoolteacher, and a grandfather, with a foreman from Ireland who works in sales. Each side has a strategy for picking jurors, with prosecutors questioning their abilities to follow instructions and set aside biases, while Trump’s attorneys delved into their opinions on the former president and scrutinized their social media histories. Trump has been closely monitoring the jury selection process, occasionally whispering to his attorney and interacting with potential jurors in the courtroom.
A new panel of 96 jurors will return on Thursday morning for further questioning, and the trial is expected to last at least six weeks. Both sides will have the opportunity to ask specific questions to the jurors and make strikes to excuse potential jurors. Trump expressed frustration with the process on social media, believing he had an unlimited number of strikes, but the judge clarified the rules on strikes during a pre-trial conference. The judge also admonished Trump for muttering and gesturing towards a potential juror, asserting his commitment to ensuring that jurors are not intimidated in the courtroom.
Overall, the jury selection process has been a pivotal aspect of Trump’s criminal trial, with both sides carefully choosing jurors who they believe will be fair and impartial. The selected jurors come from a variety of backgrounds and professions, indicating a diverse group tasked with judging the evidence in the case. Trump’s legal team has been actively involved in the process, while Trump himself has been closely following the proceedings. As the trial progresses, the dynamics between the jurors, the judge, and the attorneys will continue to shape the outcome of this historic criminal trial of a former US president.
