Jury Selection Begins for Donald Trump Hush Money Trial: 42 Questions to Assess Bias and Personal Feelings

The long-awaited trial of former President Donald Trump for hush money is set to begin on April 15. Before prospective jurors can be chosen, they must answer a list of 42 questions that cover a wide range of topics. These questions include whether the jurors have attended a rally or campaign event for Trump, their affiliation with far-right groups, and where they get their news from.

The judge overseeing the trial, Justice Juan Merchan, described the questionnaire as “broad and exhaustive.” He emphasized that the purpose of jury selection is not to determine whether a prospective juror likes or dislikes a party involved in the case, but rather to ensure that they can set aside personal feelings and biases to render a decision based on the evidence and the law.

Jurors will be asked to sit for an estimated six-week trial and will need to decide if Trump falsified business documents in order to hide an alleged illegal scheme to influence the 2016 presidential election. Trump has pleaded not guilty to 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in the first degree. This trial marks Trump’s first criminal trial, and it is rapidly approaching as the details of the jury selection process are being finalized.