The six jurors sworn in for the Trump trial: a teacher, corporate lawyer, nurse and man the ex-president called “fascinating” are chosen for hush money panel after tough questioning
By the end of day two of Donald Trump’s hush-money trial, six potential jurors had survived a 42-question questionnaire, a 30-minute interrogation by prosecutors, followed by another 30 minutes of probing by the defense.
Some had their social media posts scrutinized or were stared at by the accused.
Their prize is a ringside seat at one of the most momentous trials in American history.
No wonder some looked terrified as they walked to the jury box to take their seats and be sworn in.
“This will be your permanent seat for the duration of the trial,” said Judge Juan Merchan, who resisted repeated defense delays and could then be installed by the end of Tuesday’s hearing.
Six jurors were sworn in Tuesday afternoon. Now the court must find another six (plus six alternates who will also hear all the evidence in case they need to swap later)
Donald Trump sits among his lawyers in Courtroom 1530 of the Manhattan Criminal Court as jury selection continued for a second day on Tuesday. But in the end, six jurors were sworn in
He must find another six jurors plus six alternates this week if he wants to meet his goal of opening statements on Monday.
Here are the six jurors (identified only by jury number) who have been seated so far:
B400 The Fox News and Daily Mail reader
A man originally from Ireland who now lives in West Harlem will take the number one spot on the jury. He said he works in sales and used to be a waiter.
In his spare time he likes to do something ‘outdoors’.
He lives with his wife and (like many who appeared in court) has no children.
One of the challenges for the defense is finding jurors in liberal Manhattan who don’t get all their news from the New York Times or NPR.
Juror B400 said he reads the Daily Mail and watches Fox News, the New York Times and MSNBC.
Defense and prosecution spent a day and a half trying to remove anyone with strong feelings about the country’s most famous defendant
B280 – The oncology nurse
The juror in seat two said she had lived on the Upper East Side for the past three years.
She lives with her fiancé who works in finance, and enjoys spending time with friends and taking her dog to the park.
She sparked a moment of laughter when attorney Todd Blanche asked her what opinions she came in with about Donald Trump.
“I didn’t even know I was walking into this,” she said, sending a shiver of giggles through a crowded courtroom where reporters and members of the public watched a video feed. “I thought I was going home.”
She was confident that she could be unbiased in her judgment.
‘I am here for my civic duty. “I am here to listen to the facts,” she said
Trump aide Jason Miller is seen at the courthouse. He sat at the back of the court
B381 The Oregonian
A man with Asian appearance and black hair, in his late 20s or early 30s, according to reporters in the courtroom. He will take third place.
He is originally from Oregon and has lived in Chelsea for five years. He said he is a corporate lawyer at Gunderson Dettmer and enjoys walking and running.
Trump listened intently as he gave his answers to the questionnaire, holding his own copy close to his face.
Later in the day, during the 30-minute ‘voir dire’ session in which lawyers had their turn to ask questions, he was asked whether it was possible to infer intentions from someone’s actions.
“I don’t think I need to read someone’s mind to read their intentions,” he said.
B89 The Trump Observer
Juror number four is an older man, with receding gray hair, originally from Puerto Rico.
He lives on the Lower East Side and is a self-employed IT consultant.
“I don’t have any free time,” he said when asked about his past times. “I think my hobby is my family.”
He elicited an approving smile from the defendant later in the day when asked about his thoughts on Trump.
“Fascinating,” he said, like a naturalist talking about a wild animal. “He walks into a room and rips people off.
“He makes things interesting.”
Blanche, the defense attorney, was at a loss for words as Trump leaned back in his chair, grinning approvingly. “Uh, okay,” the lawyer said. ‘Thank you.’
In this courtroom sketch, former US President Donald Trump sits as his lawyer Todd Blanche (right) speaks during the second day of jury selection
Trump gives a thumbs up as he returns from a recess during the second day of his trial
A Trump supporter drives a van outside the Manhattan Criminal Court on Tuesday
B374 The teacher from Harlem
A young black woman from Harlem, who describes herself as a native New Yorker, and works as an English language arts teacher.
She said she lives with her brother, who is a basketball coach. And as she went through the questionnaire Tuesday morning, she explained that she got her news from Google and TikTok.
That may not have sounded promising to Trump and his team, except for one other detail she revealed.
Both her mother and godfather were retired from the NYPD; he had been a homicide sergeant.
She also said she could be impartial.
“There was a division in the country and I can’t ignore that,” she said. ‘But I have never equated that to one individual.’
B297 – The Software Engineer
A young female software engineer who lives in Chelsea with three roommates and is employed by Walt Disney.
She said her interests include plays, restaurants, dancing and watching TV.
And she said she gets her news from the New York Times, Google, Facebook and TikTok.
She said her sister is getting married in September. Would that be a problem?
“If we were still here in September, that would be a big deal,” Judge Merchan said.
She takes place number six in the jury box.