According to former federal prosecutor Glenn Kirschner, the political views of potential jurors will not be a disqualifying factor in the hush money trial of former President Donald Trump.
Jury selection is set to commence on Monday in the criminal case against Trump, the presumed GOP presidential nominee. The Manhattan District Attorney’s office, led by Alvin Bragg, conducted an investigation that resulted in Trump’s indictment in March 2023. He is facing charges of falsifying business records in relation to hush money payments made to adult film star Stormy Daniels during his 2016 presidential campaign. Daniels had claimed to have had an affair with Trump in 2006, an allegation he vehemently denied.
Trump has consistently maintained his innocence, pleading not guilty to all charges brought against him and asserting that the case is driven by political motives.
The legal team of the former president attempted to postpone the trial, arguing that the current pretrial publicity made it impossible to select an impartial jury. However, their request was denied by a judge from the New York appeals court last Monday.
Judge Juan Merchan, who is presiding over the case, recently issued 42 questions that he agreed would be asked of each potential juror. As part of the jury questionnaire, there was a prompt inquiring about any strong opinions or beliefs that may hinder the potential jurors’ ability to remain impartial during the trial.
In a recent YouTube video on “The Legal Breakdown,” Brian Kirschner, a former assistant U.S. attorney and a frequent critic of Trump, discussed the upcoming trial. He emphasized that the selected jury will be fair and impartial, providing reassurance to the viewers.
According to Kirschner, it is not disqualifying for individuals called for jury duty to have views or affiliations related to Donald Trump or political parties. Whether they are activists on the left or right, these factors should not prevent them from serving as jurors in a courthouse.
According to the former prosecutor, the process of jury selection is a rigorous one that aims to determine whether each potential juror can genuinely be fair and unbiased, regardless of their political views, beliefs, preferences, or biases.
According to Kirschner, the jury selection process goes beyond the judge’s involvement. He emphasizes that it is the prosecutors who play a crucial role in this process. They ask a series of detailed and penetrating questions to ensure that potential jurors can be fair and impartial, both for the prosecution and Donald Trump’s defense team.
“The role of a defense attorney is not solely focused on securing a fair and unbiased juror. They aim to find jurors who are as pro-Trump as possible while still being qualified to serve. Each attorney has their own goals and objectives in mind. However, I have full confidence that a fair and impartial jury will be selected for this case, ensuring that both Donald Trump and the people of New York receive a just trial.”