STATE & NATIONAL: As an exception to the rule established in the past years by Doanld Trump, the former President has engaged in cooperating with district court in Manhattan arriving to participate as the defendant in, this week's, jury selection. It is a matter of court procedure that jury selection continues in regard to the process that has been carried forth, today, with little demands placed upon Trump for responses to Judge Juan Merchan, New York Supreme Court judge's requests.
By Anne M Erbynstein
“I will not have any jurors intimidated in this courtroom.” Manhattan Supreme Court Judge & New York state Grand Jury Court Supervisor, Juan M. Merchan
The jury selection in the Donnald Trump- Stormy Daniels hush money trial continues. Already, the week has proceeded with questions aimed at potential 96 jurors. While 50 Manhattan residents have been dismissed from jury selection by their own choice--in a effort to avoid any potential for bias to enter into their judgement--now, only 36 potential jurors continue to respond to questions.
Prosecutors in the trail were caused to request responses to questions that may have been regarded as commanding while the question of holding the defendant as a co-conspirator sharing in responsibility for the actions of a partner in an act. One ofthe prosecutors, Joshua Steinglass, inquired whether potential jurors may have a problem with the prospect of the defendant's potential for shared responsibility. Questions similar to this stemmed the exodus of the 50 potential jurors among those who believed their judgement would be tainted with bias.
While it has been the belief of Trump's attorney team that Merchan was appointed to this trial by Manhattan District Attorney, Bragg, comments to the contrary were made by state court system spokesperson, Lucian Chalfen, indicated that Merchan has been selected as a supervisor over the investigative grand jury. Chalfen states that supervisory judges are, thereafter, randomly selected to preside over grand jury trials.
The status of relations between Judge Merchan and former President Trump has been tested by the fire--the results were not favorable to Donald Trump. Just months prior to the hush money hearings, Judge Merchan ended a case involving Trump in a matter of tax fraud. Merchan found Trump guilty on 17 charges and fined the former President, former television show host and mega millionaire business owner, nearly $2million dollars following a trial in which the star witness was the former Trump Organization CFO, Allen Weisberg.
Today, while wading through the ongoing process it is likely that the former President anticipates Mechan's response to Trump's request for being permitted to be relieved of a May 17 court hearing. Trump made a request at the first of the week asking the judge to forego any appearance in court on May 17th. The request made to Judge Merchan was a petition to the court for the purpose of attending Trump's young son, Baron Trump's graduation. The request made to Judge Merchan has not received a response by the Trump family--the judge stating that he would defer to awaiting the outcome of the jury selection hearings.
As the jury selection proceeded, prosecutors issued instructions and information including admonishing those who continued to be questions. Steinglass indicated that jurors should not feel pressured to such extent that they exit the court room amid proceedings. The prosecutor, also, stated that the ongoing trial is not a matter of political judgement adding that the trial is purely a matter to determine whether the defendant committed a violation of the law.
Finally, at such point in the calling up of jurors for questioning, Judge Merchan commented in regard to a comment made by Donald Trump who audibly stated that he did not prefer a particular juror. Merchan concluded that the court will not tolerate nor allow any juror to endure intimidation.
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