Judge Juan Merchan recently unveiled the questionnaire designed for potential jurors in the court case involving former President Donald Trump. The questionnaire includes a series of questions that could potentially reveal the political leanings of the individuals being considered for the jury.
The trial requires a panel of 12 New Yorkers and six alternates to be selected to determine Trump's guilt or innocence, with six jurors already chosen.
Some of the key topics covered in the questionnaire include the jurors' news consumption habits, affiliations with groups such as the Proud Boys, QAnon, and Antifa, as well as attendance at Trump rallies or anti-Trump events. Additionally, jurors are asked about their exposure to materials from Michael Cohen, Trump's former lawyer and a crucial witness for the prosecution, and whether they have read any of Trump's own books.
Prospective jurors are also questioned about their opinions on whether a former president can be prosecuted in state court and their perceptions of how Trump is being treated in the case.
The purpose of these questions is twofold. Firstly, they enable the judge to dismiss jurors who may not be able to impartially render a verdict. Secondly, both legal teams can use the responses to strike potential jurors from the pool for any reason, a critical aspect of the jury selection process.
