Jurors are routinely excused by the dozens during the selection process, but losing two seated jurors in one day, including one who got cold feet, underscores the unprecedented nature of putting a polarizing former president on trial.
Jonah Bromwich
Justice Merchan taps the microphone and speaks: He is excusing juror #4, who drew concern for possibly misrepresenting himself when answering the questionnaire. We are down to five seated jurors.
Jonah Bromwich
We got one of our best looks at Trump in the courtroom thus far as he waited before leaving. He stood still, pursed his lips and stared at the ceiling. When he was permitted to leave, he rubbed his hand and directed a tight smile at a reporter seated in the back row.
Maggie Haberman
One thing that strikes me as we listen to these answers from jurors — one who follows Trump on social media, another who’s read a book by a prosecutor who investigated him — is how much Trump’s ubiquity over 40 years in this city hangs over this case.
Maggie Haberman
Trump has been animated at points this morning, taking a call on his phone before the proceedings started. But right now, he has partially closed his eyes — something he tends to do in court when he seems to be trying to keep from lashing out.
Kate Christobek
Justice Merchan tells prospective jurors that the trial is estimated to last six weeks and that the jurors won’t meet on Wednesdays. He also says that if a sworn juror observes Passover, the court won’t convene.
Maggie Haberman
Sometimes with a celebrity trial — or a case where people have strong feelings about the defendant — there’s a dynamic where people are trying to get on the jury. We have not seen that here.
Jonah Bromwich
The prospective jurors stream into the courtroom, 18 taking seats in the jury box. Some glance over at Trump, but many look unfazed. We are going to be careful in offering physical descriptions of the jurors after the judge’s warning.
