As Donald Trump’s lawyers argued on Monday afternoon that a fair jury selection would be impossible in a Manhattan courtroom, Judge Juan Merchan, who is presiding over the former president’s criminal trial, released the questionnaire he intends to use for jury selection. The trial is set to commence on April 15.
During the jury selection process, the prosecutors will inquire whether any of the potential jurors have ever participated in any of Trump’s rallies. Additionally, they will ask if any of them are affiliated with groups such as the Proud Boys or Antifa, or if they have volunteered with any political organization associated with the former president.
“Do you hold any strong opinions or firmly held beliefs about the possibility of a former president facing criminal charges in a state court?” one question inquires. “Do you have any sentiments regarding the treatment of Mr. Trump in this particular case?”
During the jury selection process, some questions specifically inquire about the prospective jurors’ familiarity with any of Trump’s books, their ability to set aside pre-existing knowledge of the case, and their opinions on legal boundaries concerning political contributions.
Another question posed was whether individuals had any strong opinions or firmly held beliefs regarding former President Donald Trump or his current status as a presidential candidate that could potentially hinder their capacity to be an unbiased and impartial juror.
During the jury selection process, potential jurors will be required to answer a series of standard preliminary questions. These questions will cover various aspects such as their marital status, employment status, hobbies, criminal history, and any potential scheduling conflicts they may have. Following a similar approach used in the Trump Organization criminal trial, Merchan has chosen to excuse any jurors who admit to being unfair or partial.
After carefully examining the circumstances of this case, the Court has determined that there is no need to individually question every potential juror who has already indicated their inability to be fair and impartial or serve on the jury. Judge Merchan stated that such a process would be unnecessary, time-consuming, and unproductive.
Merchan also provided a preview of the summary he plans to present to the prospective jurors next week, giving them a sneak peek into the upcoming trial that will span several months.
According to the summary, the allegations against Donald Trump claim that he falsified business records in order to conceal an agreement with others to unlawfully influence the 2016 election. Specifically, it is alleged that Trump misrepresented payments to Michael Cohen as payment for legal services, when in fact they were intended to reimburse Cohen for hush money paid to Stormy Daniels. Trump has pleaded not guilty and denies these allegations.
