Donald Trump's lawyers have asked the judge overseeing the criminal hush money case to modify his plans for handling jury selection days before the historic trial begins next week.
On Monday, Judge Juan Merchán described how he would handle jury selection, advising that he would ask the pool of jurors if anyone felt they could not be fair or impartial or otherwise serve the case and then excuse those who raised their hands. without asking. further. Trump's lawyers initially asked the judge for the ability to question each of the jurors, but the judge said that is “unnecessary, time-consuming and of no benefit.”
In a letter Friday afternoon, Trump's lawyers said that approach is “inappropriate because the plan would not create a sufficient record for the purposes of any necessary appellate review or change of venue motion.”
Instead, they ask the judge to distinguish between jurors who said they can't be fair and those who otherwise couldn't serve. “Such clarity is necessary so that President Trump can present arguments to the First Department, when necessary, regarding the number of potential jurors who believed they harbored disqualifying bias prior to questioning, as well as the number of additional potential jurors who reveal a disqualifying bias.” Disqualifying bias during interrogation.”
The filing comes as Trump continues to try to build a case for his appeals. Earlier this week, Trump's lawyers tried to stop the trial by arguing that the former president cannot get a fair trial in Manhattan and appealed seeking a change of venue. The reports are due at the end of this month.
On Friday, Trump's lawyers also argued that the jury questionnaire lacks a question to “identify potential jurors who align with rival political parties who are not necessarily 'anti-Trump' but who could still endorse a disqualifying bias that deserves a follow-up investigation by the defense. .”
If the judge does not modify the questions, Trump's lawyers are asking to be allowed to ask questions to explore any affiliation.
