Dozens of questions were released this week that were contained on the questionnaire that is being to select the jurors in former President Donald Trump’s upcoming criminal trial in Manhattan.
The trial, which is slated to begin next week, centers around alleged hush money payments that Trump is accused of making to an adult entertainer during the 2016 presidential election.
The former president was indicted a year ago by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg with 34 felony counts of Falsifying Business Records in the First Degree.
Jurors were asked questions about where they live, how long they’ve lived there, whether they were New York natives, what they do for work, who their employer is, their educational background, if they are married and have children, what they do for fun, and any hobbies they may have.
They were also asked what organizations or activist groups they are involved in, if they’ve ever served on a jury before, and if they know anyone who has been the victim of a crime.
Jurors were asked about what media organizations and websites they watch, read, and listen to, including search engines, social media platforms, digital publications, newspapers, podcasts, and radio shows.
They were asked if they or any family and friends have ever been employed by a law enforcement agency, have ever served in federal, state, or local government; or have any kind of legal background.
Jurors were asked if any experience or interaction has ever caused them to form any opinion about law enforcement if they or anyone they know have ever been accused or convicted of committing a crime.
Some of the other questions included:
- Do you have any political, moral, intellectual, or religious beliefs or opinions which might prevent you from following the Court’s instructions on the law or which might slant your approach to this case?
- Do you have any political, moral, intellectual or religious beliefs or opinions that would interfere with your ability to render a verdict in this criminal case?
- Do you have a health condition that might interfere with your ability to be here on the appointed days and times or otherwise prevent you from serving as a juror?
- Without telling us the name(s), do you take any medication that would prevent you from being able to concentrate or pay attention during the proceedings or during the deliberations?
- Court proceedings normally end around 4:30 in the afternoon though on rare occasions, we might work beyond that. Would your schedule and responsibilities permit you to work later if it were absolutely necessary to complete that day’s work?
- Do you practice a religion that would prevent you from sitting as a juror on any particular weekday or weeknight?
- Can you give us an assurance that you will be fair and impartial and not base your decision in this case upon a bias or prejudice in favor of or against a person who may appear in this trial, on account of that person’s race, color, national origin, ancestry, gender, gender identity or expression, religion, religious practice, age, disability, sexual orientation or political views?
- Can you promise to guard against allowing stereotypes or attitudes about individuals or about groups of people, referred to as an implicit bias, influence your decision?
- Have you, a relative, or a close friend ever worked for any company or organization that is owned or run by Donald Trump or anyone in his family?
- Have you, a relative, or a close friend ever worked or volunteered for a Trump presidential campaign, the Trump presidential administration, or any other political entity affiliated with Mr. Trump?
- Have you ever attended a rally of campaign event for Donald Trump?
- Are you signed up for or have you ever been signed up for, subscribed to, or followed any newsletter or email listserv run by or on behalf of Mr. Trump or the Trump Organization?
- Do you currently follow Donald Trump on any social media site or have you done so in the past?
- Have you, a relative, or a close friend ever worked or volunteered for any and-Trump group or organization?
- Have you ever attended a rally or campaign event for any anti-Trump group or organization?
- Do you have any feelings of opinions about how Mr. Trump is being treated in this case?
- Can you give us your assurance that you will decide this case solely on the evidence you see and hear in this courtroom and the law as the judge gives it?
- Do you have any strong opinions or firmly held beliefs about former President Donald Trump, or the fact that he is a current candidate for president that would interfere with your ability to be a fair and impartial juror?