New York, NY – Seven jurors have been selected for the panel that will determine the guilt or innocence of former President Donald Trump in the New York hush money case. The process of jury selection has proven to be challenging and contentious, as Trump’s lawyers have scrutinized prospective jurors’ social media posts to weed out any anti-Trump bias.
Judge Juan Merchan issued a stern warning to Trump after the defense team attempted to remove jurors with alleged biases against the former president. The court has emphasized the importance of ensuring a fair and impartial jury for what is the first criminal trial involving a former U.S. president.
The selected jurors include four men and three women, with one man from Ireland appointed as the jury foreperson. Five out of the seven jurors have a college degree or higher education, with two men on the panel being lawyers. Despite their awareness of Trump facing charges in other criminal cases, the jurors have not shown strong opinions about Trump or politics.
During the voir dire process, where both sides questioned potential jurors, Assistant District Attorney Joshua Steinglass and Trump’s attorney Todd Blanche highlighted contrasting approaches. Steinglass emphasized the complexities of witness testimonies and the need for impartiality, while Blanche focused on jurors’ views of Trump.
Merchan hopes to conclude jury selection promptly to proceed with the trial next week. While the court aims to form a full jury of 12 jurors and six alternates, only seven jurors have been selected so far. The court remains vigilant in ensuring a fair trial process, with strict measures in place to prevent any attempts to influence or intimidate jurors.