These are the questions potential jurors could be asked
The jury of 12, along with six alternates, will be chosen from hundreds of New Yorkers after an exhaustive jury selection process that could stretch beyond the first week of the trial.
Court officials expect about 500 new jurors to appear each day beginning Monday to be available for the selection process. About 100 prospective jurors at a time will be brought into Judge Juan Merchan’s courtroom to be vetted.
The judge released the questionnaire that will be presented to potential jurors, which contains multiple questions that could signal political views to the lawyers on both sides.
Here's what potential jurors could be asked about:
- News consumption.
- Affiliations with groups like the Proud Boys, QAnon and Antifa.
- Whether they or anyone in their circle attended a Trump rally or an anti-Trump event.
- If they’ve ever read books or listened to podcasts from Michael Cohen, Trump’s former lawyer and a key witness for the district attorney.
- If they’ve read any of Trump’s own books.
- If they have views on whether a former president can be charged in state court.
- If they have views on how Trump is being treated in this case.
Why does this matter: The questions will be used for the judge to strike jurors at the outset, if they don’t believe they can render a verdict fairly. They will also be used by lawyers for both sides to strike jurors for any reason — a key part of the jury selection process.
We are now waiting for the jurors
As we wait for the jurors, Trump is in discussion with his lawyers Todd Blanche and Emil Bove.
Judge Juan Merchan asked the attorneys not to encourage jurors to seek out private conservations with the parties.
There will be a Sandoval hearing tomorrow morning
Judge Juan Merchan said they will have a Sandoval hearing tomorrow at 9:30 a.m. ET.
About a Sandoval hearing: During a Sandoval hearing, a judge is asked whether previous bad acts can be brought up and the judge is expected to weigh the probative value versus prejudicial effect of doing so, according to CNN legal analyst Karen Friedman Agnifilo.
Jurors' identities will be known to lawyers on both sides
The identities of the jurors will remain anonymous, but will be known to the attorneys on both sides.
Trump attorney Todd Blanche asked Judge Juan Merchan how attorneys will get the names of the jury pool. Merchan said he will give them copies of jury lists with just numbers and a single copy with names and numbers. He told the lawyers the jurors are not to be photographed.
"We're all working this out" and "figuring this out as we go," the judge said.
Judge gives Trump's lawyers 24 hours to identify what exhibits they intend to use at the trial
The judge is giving Donald Trump's lawyers 24 hours to identify what exhibits they intend to use at the trial, after prosecutors allege the defense has stalled in providing prosecutors with the documents they want to use in their case.
"You have 24 hours," the judge said, telling Trump's team they are already in violation of an order he gave two months ago.
Trump just tapped his attorney Todd Blanche on the shoulder, leaned toward him and they are actively talking
Hearing on motion to sanction Trump for social media posts scheduled for next week
From pool reports
Judge Juan Merchan said he will hold a hearing on the district attorney's motion to sanction Donald Trump for his social media posts, according to pool reports.
The hearing will be next week, on April 24 at 2:15 p.m. ET.
Trump’s lawyers have until Friday to file their written response. Prosecutor Christopher Conroy asked that a copy of the order be served on Trump. Papers were then handed to Trump and Trump's lawyer Todd Blanche at the defense table.
Trial expected to include a lot of objections and sidebars, sources tell CNN
The historic trial of former President Donald Trump is expected to include a lot of objections and sidebars, sources told CNN chief legal affairs correspondentPaula Reid.
Sidebar conversations are usually issues that attorneys want to resolve outside the presence of the jury or potential jurors, Reid explained. They are usually sensitive issues that could be related to evidence being brought up.
In this case, the defense are using sidebars because they are focused on preserving every issue for appeal, according to Reid.
Judge says courtroom will be cleared to question individual jurors so they don't feel intimidated
Judge Juan Merchan said he has changed his mind on how they will question individual jurors.
The judge said if they are going to speak to an individual juror, they will clear the courtroom of all the other jurors and send them back to the general room.
The judge said he's doing this so the juror does not feel intimidated speaking in front of a full courtroom. The juror would then answer questions from the podium with the judge, attorneys, Trump and some members of the press in the room.
Trump's attorney, however, is pushing back. The judge said the side room is designed to hold 12 people "and we are well over that number."
"We want to know who we’re getting on this jury. Anything we do discouraging jurors from being 100% open, kind of cuts against that," Merchan said, explaining his concern about having jurors in front of so many people.
The judge allowed the parties to begin a discussion about Trump's other previous negative actions, but said that once the jury panel of 96 is ready, he wants to get them in.
Court is back in session
Judge Juan Merchan is back on the bench after roughly an hour long lunch break, and Donald Trump's first criminal trial has resumed.
