The first criminal trial of a former US president is set to begin with jury selection on Monday, surrounding 34 charges of business fraud in a hush money case involving Donald Trump. The trial, taking place in Manhattan, is expected to draw a left-of-center, well-educated, and affluent jury, according to Steve Duffy at Trial Behavior Consulting.
Prospective jurors will receive summons in the mail and be asked about hardship and bias, with judges having discretion on excusing individuals based on their circumstances. The jury questionnaire for the case includes 42 questions, covering biographic information and attitudes related to the case.
The selection process involves questioning jurors in the courtroom, with both the defence and prosecution having the opportunity to challenge jurors for cause or through peremptory strikes. Social media research will also play a role in determining potential biases of jurors.
Given the high-profile nature of the case, the selection process is expected to be lengthy, with hundreds of jurors potentially being called. Norm Eisen, former special counsel to the House Judiciary Committee, estimates the process could take up to two weeks.
As the trial unfolds, 18 prospective jurors will be put in the jury box at a time to answer the questionnaire, with challenges and strikes determining the final jury panel. The process will continue until 12 jurors have been chosen to hear the case.