Judge restricts access to jurors’ identities in Trump hush money trial
The New York judge presiding over former President Donald Trump's hush money case ruled Thursday that he'll use an anonymous jury when the case goes to trial this month.
The New York judge presiding over former President Donald Trump's hush money case ruled Thursday that he'll use an anonymous jury when the case goes to trial this month.
While Trump and attorneys in the case will know the identities of the jurors, their names will be shielded from the press and the public, Judge Juan Merchan said in his order, citing "a likelihood of bribery, jury tampering, or of physical injury or harassment of juror(s)."
The judge said his order applies only to jurors' identities and addresses, and had been requested by prosecutors from the Manhattan district attorney's office and consented to by Trump's attorneys.
"To be clear, the parties have not requested, and this Court has not agreed, to close the Courtroom during jury selection or at any other time during the proceedings. Access to the courtroom by the public and the press will not be tempered in any way as a result of these protective measures," Merchan said.
He also granted a request by Trump's attorneys to "minimize potential prejudice" to their client by not notifying the jurors of the protective measures and giving "neutral explanations" if they ask about them. He asked both sides to jointly submit "proposed neutral explanations" by March 15, and said if they can't agree on language, to file separate suggestions by March 18.
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