Judge Juan Merchan announced today that he will be excusing the jury at 4:30 p.m. ET. The decision was made during a court session where the judge asked the involved parties to convene in order to inform them of his plan to send the jury home for the day.
After making the announcement, Judge Merchan stepped off the bench, indicating a brief recess before reconvening. The exact reason for excusing the jury early was not disclosed, but it is common for judges to adjust schedules based on various factors such as the progress of the trial, the availability of witnesses, or other logistical considerations.
