Laborious start in NY
NY: Trump trial does not (yet) find a jury
In a trial for the history books, presidential candidate Donald Trump has been on trial in New York since Monday for covering up a hush money payment to a former porn actress. However, the selection of the twelve jurors is long and arduous. Potential candidates left the courtroom in droves - more than 50 percent showed bias.
It is the first criminal trial against an ex-US president, and it is taking place in the middle of the election campaign. Despite their best efforts, Trump's lawyers have been unable to postpone at least one of four upcoming trials - three will probably not be held until after the election in November.
The trial that began on Monday could last up to eight weeks. It concerns hush money payments relating to the porn star Stormy Daniels. She claims to have had more than just professional dealings with Trump. Among other things, Trump denies an interlude, but not the flow of money.
As is customary in the USA, 18 jurors (twelve "regular" and six alternate jurors) are summoned to a hearing. These people have to fulfill certain criteria - which, however, are apparently not so easy to meet in Trump's case.
On Monday, 96 New York citizens of various age groups were summoned to be tested for "fitness". But they left the courtroom in droves.
Judge urged objectivity
More than half of those summoned declared that they could neither be "fair" nor "impartial" to Trump. Nine others were dismissed by Judge Juan M. Merchan for other reasons.
Merchan emphasized that it was essential that "personal feelings and prejudices" be disregarded. What is important is a decision based on evidence and the law.
The remaining candidates, who felt able to be objective and unbiased, were asked about their personal background, media consumption, hobbies and their attitude towards Trump, according to Der Spiegel.
Based on their answers, the lawyers can in turn ask the judge to exclude them "for cause". A total of ten potential jurors and two potential alternate jurors can be rejected by the lawyers without giving reasons.
"The defendant is hated"
At the end of the first day of the trial, only around a third of the original 96 candidates remained. No jurors have been selected, and the selection process is scheduled to continue on Tuesday. The New York Times commented that this arduous selection showed how difficult it was "to choose an impartial panel in a city where the defendant is widely hated".
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