Trump to Receive Juror Names in Hush-Money Trial, Public to Be Kept in the Dark

Former President Donald Trump has been granted limited access to juror information for his upcoming New York hush-money criminal trial, according to a ruling by Manhattan Judge Juan Manuel Merchan. The decision, made on Thursday, states that the names of jurors will be made available to Trump, his defense lawyers, prosecutors, jury consultants, and legal staff, but will be kept anonymous from the public.

Strict Guidelines for Access

The ruling specifies that only Trump's lawyers and prosecutors will have access to the addresses of the jurors' homes and workplaces, with the possibility of Trump forfeiting this privilege if he publicly discloses the information.

Jury selection for the trial is scheduled to commence on March 25, with the judge emphasizing that while the jurors' names will be made available to the concerned parties, the courtroom will remain open to the public and the press with no restrictions on access during jury selection and the trial.

Background and Charges

Trump faces accusations in the hush-money case related to alleged falsification of internal records to conceal payments made to his former lawyer, Michael Cohen, who in turn paid porn actor Stormy Daniels $130,000. This transaction was purportedly part of an effort to suppress claims of extramarital encounters during Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign.

Specifically, Trump is charged with 34 counts of falsifying business records, a felony that carries a maximum sentence of four years in prison. However, it's important to note that a conviction does not guarantee jail time. This trial marks the first of his four criminal cases to proceed to court, pending any last-minute delays.

Request for Protective Measures

The decision to keep the jurors' names anonymous stemmed from a request by prosecutors, who cited Trump's history of attacking jurors in previous proceedings. They pointed to instances where Trump publicly criticized and made disparaging remarks about jurors involved in legal cases connected to him.

Prosecutors argued that safeguarding the anonymity of jurors was crucial to minimize obstacles to jury selection and ensure juror safety, especially in light of Trump's past conduct involving public statements about jurors and legal proceedings.

Disputed Claims

In response to the prosecution's request, Trump's lawyers acknowledged the need to keep jurors' names private but disputed the characterization of Trump's previous comments about jurors. They argued that the prosecution failed to provide concrete examples where Trump had specifically attacked or harassed any juror by name.

Furthermore, Trump's legal team emphasized the prejudicial media attention surrounding the case as a reason to shield jurors' identities from the public. They highlighted instances where jurors had voluntarily revealed themselves and discussed their involvement in legal cases with the media.

Future Legal Proceedings

The judge has yet to rule on the prosecution's request for a gag order that would prevent Trump from making public statements about jurors, witnesses, and other individuals linked to the case. The decision regarding this request, along with the specifics of Trump's access to juror information, will likely have implications for the upcoming trial.