Jury Selection for Trump’s Historic Criminal Trial– OGM News: The search for an impartial jury kicked off this week in the unprecedented criminal trial of former President Donald Trump. Trump faces 34 felony counts related to alleged hush money payments made in 2016 to bury damaging information during his first presidential campaign.
This historic case marks the first time a former or sitting U.S. president has faced criminal charges. Starting Monday, hundreds of prospective Manhattan jurors will be questioned over their ability to weigh the evidence fairly against the defendant who also happens to be the frontrunner for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination.
Jury Selection Faced Probing for Potential Biases
Over 42 questions will probe potential jurors’ personal backgrounds, media consumption habits, and opinions about Trump and the charges against him. Questions will cover where they live, jobs, education levels, political beliefs, and exposure to media coverage or books about the case.
Jurors will be asked if they participated in groups like QAnon or Proud Boys, and if they have assured views on whether a former president can be prosecuted. The court aims to select 12 impartial jurors and 6 alternates despite the case’s politically-charged nature.
Assessing Fairness and Impartiality in Jury Selection
Jury Selection : Several questions go to the heart of determining if someone can judge the evidence objectively without bias against Trump due to his status. “Can you set aside anything you’ve read and decide solely on courtroom evidence?” and “Can you be fair despite strong opinions about the defendant?” are among the key queries.
Jurors must affirm they can follow legal instructions, including the presumption of innocence and Trump’s right not to testify. Ensuring a fundamentally fair trial for the defendant, whatever one’s political views may be, is the paramount objective.
Trump’s Charged Response
Before the Jury Selection that began today, Trump has decried the charges as a politically motivated “witch hunt” and election interference. On his Truth Social platform, he called the case “a coordinated insurrection by a brazen, lawless, and pernicious act by corrupt prosecutorial officers” designed to hurt his 2024 campaign.
However, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg has countered that “no one is above the law” and the grand jury properly examined the evidence. He accuses Trump of falsifying business records to conceal damaging information and disguising hush payments as legal fees ahead of the 2016 election.
Neutralizing Publicity’s Impact
Given the extensive pre-trial publicity, the judge plans to question potential jurors individually about their exposure to media coverage and opinions about the matter. Those who cannot separate what they’ve heard from courtroom evidence will likely be excused.
Consultants note the challenge of finding jurors without preconceptions in such a high-profile case with a celebrity defendant. But they believe a fair jury can be impaneled if people are truly open-minded about innocence versus guilt based solely on the proof presented.
Trial Expected to Last Into Summer
Once a jury is seated after this meticulous vetting process, opening statements could start in late April or May. The trial itself may span 4-6 weeks of testimony and evidence presentation from both sides before deliberations begin.
If convicted on the charges related to covering up alleged affairs, Trump could face anything from probation up to four years in prison under New York law – an unlikely outcome given his status, according to most legal analysts. But the trial’s political and legal reverberations could dramatically impact his 2024 White House bid either way.
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