A #juror was quickly dismissed at the start. She was among the 7 already selected, she said she was very worried that despite the fact the court ruled to keep jurors’ name secret, she would still be exposed & targeted.
The #juror explained that aspects of her being part of the jury are now out in #public. She said she was concerned about people knowing her identity.
The juror is worried about what has already been reported about her publicly. She said she had friends, colleagues & family conveying to her that she had been identified as a potential juror.
We are down to 6 jurors, & apparently waiting to hear from another, juror 4. The judge is addressing the #NewsMedia, saying there is a reason #reporters are taking measures to keep the #jury#anonymous.
It “kind of defeats the purpose of that" when so much information is #publicized about them.
"There's a reason this is an #anonymous#jury & why we have taken the steps we have taken," Justice #Merchan says, asking that the #press "abide common sense," & avoid physical descriptions.
Merchan says we lost a #juror who he thinks would have "been a very good juror."
"I'm directing the press to refrain from writing anything you observe w/your eyes & hear w/your ears that's not on the record," the judge says.
Joshua Steinglass, a Manhattan DA office prosecutor, suggested that prospective #jurors not be asked to answer who their current & previous employers are, to better anonymize them.
The judge says it's a great suggestion.
It was the juror questionnaire, which was not created by the #press, that included a question about employers.
The #defense is objecting to skipping the question about current & past employers.
"That's not fair," #Trump atty Susan Necheles said of being denied the info.
#Merchan asks the #press not to report the answers to questions 3a & 3d on the #juror questionnaire: "Who is your current employer?" & "Who was your prior employer?"
"I have the #legal authority to do it,” he says of blocking the press from reporting info about jurors' employers.
Justice #Merchan says the questions about employers are necessary. But he directs prospective jurors' answers to be #redacted from the transcript & #reporters to not report them.
Christopher Conroy, one of the Manhattan DA prosecutors, is now arguing that #Trump has continued to violate the #GagOrder that was placed on him. [ya think?]
#Trump defense is saying that reposting statements from others should not violate the #GagOrder, echoing Trump's own defense of his statements for years.
Conroy notes that Trump posted on social media quoting Jesse Watters on Fox News appearing to attack the prospective #jurors, saying they were activists trying to get on the jury to harm Trump. He underscores that they are asking #Merchan to hold Trump "in contempt."
Emil Bove, one of Trump's lawyers, says #Trump is simply responding to "political attacks" when he criticizes #MichaelCohen, his fmr atty & #fixer, who's a key trial #witness.
#Merchan makes no immediate ruling on possible violation of the #GagOrder, saying he will wait for a hearing scheduled for April 23.
So yeah, Trump is certain to spend the time before then posting crap that will test the gag order's limits.
A Manhattan DA prosecutor, Joshua Steinglass, said that #juror 4 or someone w/ their name seems to have been #arrested in the 1990s in Westchester for tearing down #political ads. After some more research, he says, they also found that the juror's wife was previously involved in a #corruption inquiry & cooperated w/ the DA's office. This means that the juror, if they've identified the right person, #lied in response to one of the questions on the questionnaire.
#Merchan is now saying that the DA’s office came across information about juror #4 that called the veracity of that juror's answers into questions. The juror did not arrive at court on time.
The judge notes that the #juror was asked to be here at 9:15 & is still not here, & he expressed some reluctance to come in this morning. He is letting the parties discuss whether to dismiss the juror or wait for him.
They are bringing in a new group of 96 prospective #jurors. This group has already been sworn in, & will soon go through the winnowing process, starting w/ Justice #Merchan asking them to raise their hands if they feel they cannot be fair to #Trump.
Reporters will be more careful in offering physical descriptions of the jurors after the judge's warning & earlier juror dismissal.
The #press is barred from covering aspects of the trial related to the #jury, for understandable #security reasons. At the same time, the judge is taking another 5 days to hold a hearing on whether #Trump has violated the #GagOrder that was placed on him w/ repeated social media posts about a key #witness & #jurors.
This is 1 of many ways in which despite Trump's complaints that he is being treated unfairly, the judge is bending over backwards to be fair to him in this #trial.
w/a celebrity trial—or a case that elicits strong feelings—there’s a dynamic where people are trying to get on the #jury. Not so w/the #TrumpTrial; >50 of Monday’s 1st group of 96 said they couldn’t be fair. Dozens today have said the same, & they’ve had a few days to think about the ramifications of serving.
So far, 48 prospective #jurors left bc they said they could not be fair & impartial, 9 more were excused for other reasons. 39 are left in this group.
The prospective #jurors will now be asked the 42 questions on the juror questionnaire, starting w/ basics. They’ll also be asked more targeted questions re their political leanings. For example, they will be asked if they have ever attended a #Trump rally or read one of his books.
Trump has been animated at points this morning, but now, he has partially closed his eyes --- his new narrative is he does this when he’s trying to keep from lashing out.
The first potential #juror that is being questioned this morning says she has previously worked as a #law clerk for the federal government & has discussed the #legal merits of this case w/many of her coworkers. Justice #Merchan asks if that would influence her if she’s chosen for the jury. She paused before saying she could be fair, but then added: “It is hard to unring a bell.” no doubt. I couldn’t be on this [#jury]
They brought back previously mentioned #juror4, who they were concerned misrepresented his arrest history when answering the questionnaire.
The reported conversation was odd given that he was accused of lying. His answers appeared to make defense atty, Todd Blanche, laugh. #Trump leaned in closer to listen. The juror explained something at length, gesticulating & setting off more laughter. Judge #Merchan did not look amused. The conversation ended & the juror was escorted from the room.
The juror spoke to the lawyers. If he were to remain on the jury, the lawyers will know this juror better than they know any others, due to all of this interaction.
Merchan tapped the microphone then stated he was excusing juror 4.
#Jurors are often excused by the dozens during selection, & even if someone is picked, it is not guaranteed that they'll serve. But losing 2 previously seated jurors in one day, isn’t great.
Justice #Merchan said Tues that given the rate they were seating jurors, opening arguments could begin as soon as Mon morning. We’ll see.
Merchan says that more prospective jurors will answer the questionaire before lunch. Attys on both sides will then each question the group.
It’s probably safe to say that few, if any, judges have had to deal w/the array of #threats to #their trial that Justice #Merchan has had to. Besides #Trump himself, who constantly tests the boundaries of his #GagOrder, there are his allies who attacking the judge & his family & who aren’t covered by the gag order. Then there’s the #media who has been putting potentially identifying info about prospective #jurors on TV.
In a brief interview outside the courtroom, #juror4 who was just dismissed declined to give his name & said he didn’t want to answer questions. But nodded when asked if he thought he could be unbiased & shook his head when asked if he felt at all intimidated in the courtroom.
Asked if he thought he should have been dismissed, he gave a one-word answer: “Nope.”
A total of 7 jurors had been seated on Tues.
2 of the 7 have now been dismissed. No one yet has been newly selected.
So we are down to just 5 seated jurors.
Lawyers on both sides of the case must now replace the 2 — & find several more.
But >½ of a fresh group of 96 prospective jurors were dismissed almost immediately, including 48 who indicated that they did not believe they could be fair & impartial.
#JurySelection began w/a sworn in juror getting dismissed over doxxing concerns.
“I definitely have concerns now. One of them especially being the aspects of my identity have already been out there in public. Yesterday alone I had friends, colleagues & family push things to my phone regarding questioning my identity as a juror.”
It’s unclear what her friends were messaging, but the concerns reflect the reality that #media outlets are publishing details about jurors were revealed in open court, that some #RightWingcommentators use to say if jurors would be pro #Trump or not.
Prosecutors asked Judge #Merchan to rule Trump violated his #GagOrder by posting a quote from #FoxNews’ #JesseWatters falsely claiming that some of the prospective jurors are “undercover liberal activists." [#disinformation#propaganda]
Josh Steinglass, a Manhattan DA, starts prosecution’s #VoirDire, going over much of what he said to prospective jurors on Tues, incl’g that the case is about whether #Trump broke the #law.
At first, the new group of 18 jurors was quiet. But then, one said that she thought about it during lunch, & she is "worried that I know too much" about the case.
He asks her if she's worried about her ability to put her knowledge aside & she says that she is.
The prospective juror, a lawyer, explained in the AM that as a #law clerk in the fed court across the st from the state court, she had extensive conversations w/colleagues about the evidence against #Trump & a book by a fmr prosecutor who said a diff Trump case should have been pursued more aggressively “…I think just the fact that I spent a year discussing this case w/a federal judge & law clerks” is a problem, she said.”I’m worried…it’s going to seep in.” Steinglass thanked her for her candor.
Meanwhile, another prospective juror who had earlier said he had strong feelings about how the #criminal justice system has treated #Trump has now said he “misinterpreted” the question & has no such beliefs.
“This case has nothing to do w/your personal #politics, your feelings about a particular #political issue. It’s not a referendum on the #Trump presidency, a popularity contest … or any indication of who you plan to vote for” Steinglass said.
“This case is about whether this man broke the #law,” he said, pointing at Trump. He asked one potential juror if he could do that
“I could be objective, no problem,” he replied.
When Steinglass said some witnesses have “baggage,” Trump shook his head.
The jury in the #TrumpTrial is going to see a lot of paperwork #evidence, & prosecutor Joshua Steinglass explained to the prospective #jurors.
“As jurors you’re going to have to analyze the evidence, apply your common sense & draw the appropriate conclusions from that evidence. You’re going to have to roll up your sleeves & get into the weeds a little bit,” Steinglass said
That evidence will include voluminous checks, emails, invoices & texts, he said.
“We’re going to ask you to be patient as we walk you through all those documents in what sometimes may seem like excruciating detail.”
The potential jurors, called on individually by Steinglass, said they could do that.
#Trump is reportedly staring intently at the jury box as the #VoirDire goes on. He (again) shakes his head as Steinglass references someone being “criminally liable” for the acts of others.
Steinglass explains the concept of “accessorial liability.” He uses the same analogy he did on Tues: a husband hiring a hitman to murder his wife, he asks prospective #jurors if they would understand the husband to be #guilty of the #crime. Today, though, the #defense lawyers object. #Merchan overrules, & the hitman question stands.
Steinglass managed to compare #Trump coordinating the falsification of docs w/a husband putting out a hit on his wife.
Steinglass wrapped up by asking whether any of the 18 prospective jurors would have trouble finding #Trump#guilty if prosecution proves its case. He asks each individually. Not one expresses any concerns about doing so.
Susan Necheles, defense, is up. She begins by saying she has “the honor of representing President Trump."🤮
This could backfire if any prospective jurors are irked by hearing Trump referred to in the “dear leader” way he insists.
#Trump will likely be pleased w/Necheles's #VoirDire. She questioned the #credibility of those who are expected to testify against Trump, & made a reference to #MichaelCohen, suggesting that some #witnesses might want to seek “revenge” (the title of a Cohen books) on Trump. Cohen’s book is specifically named on the questionnaire.
Trump gives the hairy eyeball to jurors when Necheles suggests that a witness may be lying if they change the details of their story.
Necheles, Trump's atty, is trying to get the jurors to say they don’t like #Trump.
Prospective jurors are mostly answering that their disagreements w/Trump as president won’t impact their impartiality.
Necheles appears to be trying to draw prospective jurors into lying, which would be reason to dismiss them “for cause.” The defense has a limited number of opportunities to dismiss prospective #jurors for no reason at all, this is a way around using those.
One prospective juror, asked if he has strong opinions on #Trump, says he doesn't & thanks Trump for fixing the ice skating rink in Central Park that Trump's co operated.
Another says she "follows politics a lot," but adds "when it gets personal & petty, I'm allergic to that"
Another says Trump's behavior as a public figure has been "self-serving.”
When Necheles says it sounds like she doesn't like him, the juror replies, "Yes."
Trump is reportedly watching the potential jurors closely today.
Another prospective juror interviewed by Necheles, says she is very "centrist." She says she appreciates #democracy & a diversity of #political opinion. But, says, "I really don't think this case is about my #personal politics, this case is ultimately about the #evidence & the #facts presented." She concludes by saying that her family background "comes from #totalitarian regimes," & that bc of that, she believes in "innocent until proven guilty."
#Trump's lawyer, Susan Necheles, confronted many prospective #jurors about their #socialmedia activity, clearly the lawyers know things about them, a lot of which was not stuff they were asked in open court. They clearly have people doing deep dives on these people. It’d be pretty hard to not have concerns that their identities will be leaked
The prospective #jurors left for the lawyers discussion, some may be brought back in for individual interviews. The defense & the prosecution may both seek to strike jurors "for cause." If they can't do so, they will use their limited number of peremptory challenges, which allow them to excuse jurors w/o a reason.
Those who survive challenges will be seated on the jury unless this process has given them the concerns articulated above.
More about the question of whether #Trump violated his #GagOrder by posting a quote from #FoxNews' #JesseWatters, Trump didn’t “repost” Watters, he wrote out his own post referencing Watters’s false characterization of prospective jurors.
So… I found a baby squirrel crying & stuck at the bottom of my indoor basement stairs. It’s the “country” so there are ways it could have found its way in on its own. I looked EVERYWHERE for its momma/tree/nest — even all over the basement jic, to no avail.
I captured it w/an upside down thin plastic bucket, & gently slid a piece of cardboard under.
At first, I tried to take it outside but after I tried to release it, I knew there was no way it was going to survive. It's waaay too young.
I did some research & now I have it wrapped in clean rags in a makeshift “cage” set upon a heating pad (no seed or water per research)
If it survives the night, I found a rescue that hopefully will take it.
Adorably, my dog Linus is totally unfazed, other than a look of “here goes momma again rescuing yet another critter”
this is far from my 1st rescue.
Just in the last yr: a snake tangled in chicken wire, a nest of baby bunnies, & a bat.
I also used to volunteer at an animal hospital.
I’m going to TRY not to post too many rescued #BabySquirrel videos, but the little one has improved so much since getting snug & warm & it’s ridiculously cute.
I’m (knock wood) feeling good about its prospects.
Baby #squirrel happily comfortably snuggling, bravely decided to sleep up high on cloths. (Don’t worry I checked that the heating pad wasn’t too warm)
@Nonilex
As a veteran rescuer you provably know this but when I spoke to a raccoon rescue about three babies I found in a shrub during a downpour, they recommended kitty milk for them, which I easily found at Petco.
Bosco the mouse I found frozen on my porch, (I can’t believe he thawed out and lived, but he did) and Remy the Rat who showed up on my patio one night. I’m sure he either escaped or was abandoned by a moving neighbor. Totally tame.
@Joe_Hill
Lucky critters near you! I’m a veteran rescuer too & have also taken care of baby raccoons.
Squirrels don’t tolerate kitten formula, puppy formula or “Fox Valley Day ONE 32/40” -formula for Squirrels, Rabbits & Opossums
I even rescued a bat who’d been blown between a back-door & screen-door during a storm. Drove 2½ hrs to a rescue org for that little one. Yup, 2½ hrs in a car w/a bat in a box.
I have no problem watching zombie/horror flicks, but roadkill breaks my heart.
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