Translation
Laffy
@GottaLaff@mastodon.social
24/ Klasfeld:
Justice Merchan tells jurors that trial is expected to last roughly 6 weeks, though he emphasizes that's just an estimate.
Press pool: "It's a diverse cross-section of Manhattanites."
Before proceedings began, Justice Merchan said he would immediately excuse jurors who said they couldn't be fair.
25/ !!
Wow is right! Wow!
Klasfeld:
Candidates self-identifying in this way are being excused right now.
Wow.
"More than half of prospective jurors in the first panel of 96 people have been excused after saying they could not be fair and impartial. At least 50 were let go for that reason"
26/ Press: (pool reporter)
Now we will call the numbers of 18 jurors and ask you to see in the jury box. Read the questionnaire and answer the questions aloud. We'll do it be Juror ID...
27/
Orden:
At least 9 more prospective jurors were excused after raising their hand when Merchan asked if they could not serve for any other reason.
Of the excused jurors, more than two dozen were white women, per pool.
(voir dire of jurors)
39/ Klasfeld:
Per pool:
"A prospective juror leaving the courtroom was heard in the hallway saying, 'I just couldn't do it.'"
40/ Klasfeld:
The current potential juror says she follows Trump on social media, but otherwise doesn't attend his rallies, sign up for his mailings, or have family on his campaign.
She answers yes to the question about whether she has opinions on the legal limits of campaign contributions.
Afternoon recess.
42/ Press:
They're back.
Seat 4: I have a child who is getting married out of town on June 8.
Judge Merchan: I think we should be done by then, but I can't say for sure. You have to decide whether you want to roll the dice. Where is the wedding?
Seat 4: Seattle
[Excused]
43/ Lisa Rubin:
NEW: It’s 4 pm, and while nearly 2/3 of the first group of 96 prospective jurors were excused due to their self identified inability to be fair and impartial or other, unspecified inabilities to serve, we have only been through voir dire of 4 people.
This is the potential downfall of Merchan’s decision to let those who say they are “unable to serve” go, no questions asked, while questioning the remainder in detail.
44/ Rubin:
And, of course, the order in which questions are asked matters. In many cases, jurors are only asked to volunteer yes answers to a set of screening questions; those who get through that stage then can be questioned about their neighborhood, occupation, employer, etc.
47/ Orden:
A prospective juror who is an ADA in the Bronx answers a voir dire question by saying, "my girlfriend is in finance for a bank but I honestly don't know what she does," drawing laugher from prosecutors.
(more voir dire)
49/ Press:
Justice Merchan: We'll break for the day
END. Whew! I'm exhausted.
