In a historic event not found in history books, hundreds of New Yorkers will report for jury duty in Manhattan and be vetted as potential jurors for the trial of former U.S. president Donald J. Trump. The selection process will be challenging as both the defense and prosecution will narrow down the pool to 12 jurors and several alternates, probing for biases that could influence the trial’s outcome. The jurors will be expected to answer questions honestly in the intimidating presence of the former president, who is anticipated to be in attendance for much of the trial.
New York State’s law prohibits juries from operating anonymously, meaning that the jurors’ names and addresses will be known to the parties involved, including Mr. Trump’s legal team. While the public may never know the jurors’ identities, the judge has granted the prosecutors’ request to withhold this information from the public. The prospective jurors will be asked a series of questions regarding their ability to be fair and impartial, any scheduling conflicts, as well as their background and media consumption habits.
Challenges to include or remove potential jurors will be made by both sides, with the judge having the final say. Despite his involvement in the jury selection process, Mr. Trump is prohibited from making public statements about the jurors due to a gag order issued by Justice Merchan. This trial marks a significant moment in legal history as the process unfolds in the public eye, impacting not only the former president but also the jurors tasked with deciding his fate.
