Bloomberg Law: Trump on Trial & Abortion on the AZ Ballot
Apr 16, 2024
auto_awesome
Former federal prosecutor Zeldin discusses Trump's criminal trial. Ziegler talks about efforts in Arizona for abortion on the ballot. Topics include jury selection, Trump potentially testifying, abortion protests in Arizona, constitutional challenges, legal risks for physicians, abortion language in ballot initiatives, and political ramifications of upcoming elections.
Jury selection crucial in Trump trial to ensure fair trial without bias.
Both sides strategically target specific demographics for sympathetic jurors in Arizona abortion ballot efforts.
Deep dives
Overview of Trump's Criminal Trial Preparation
The criminal trial of former President Donald Trump is centered around the Manhattan DA's claims of Trump coordinating payments to spike tabloid stories of alleged affairs prior to the 2016 election. The DA alleges campaign finance violations through falsified business records, not just hush money payments. Jury selection is crucial, with defense targeting specific demographics for sympathetic jurors. The judge extensively screens jurors to ensure impartiality, aiming for a fair trial without undue bias.
Importance of Jury Selection Strategies
Both defense and prosecutors strategize jury selection for their case's success. Defense targets young African American males and working-class whites, exploiting perceived skepticism towards law enforcement. Prosecutors seek college-educated white-collar workers and prioritize women jurors for empathy towards alleged victim testimonies. The goal is unanimity in the jury decision, with strategic juror selection critical to each side's argument and potential case outcome.
The Judge's Role in Jury Selection
The judge focuses on selecting impartial jurors who will base their verdict solely on presented evidence and jury instructions. Examining jurors' media habits and ideologies, the judge aims to create a jury devoid of extreme biases. The judge's challenge lies in detecting stealth jurors who conceal biased motives. Selecting a fair and unbiased jury in Manhattan's politically charged environment poses a significant challenge, impacting trial fairness and potential outcomes.
Potential Trial Schedule Challenges and Testimony Expectations
The trial's impending timeline poses challenges, with judge balancing court schedules and personal events for involved parties without jeopardizing trial integrity. Speculations on Trump's potential testimony highlight defense dilemmas. Despite Trump's past claims of testifying, legal experts advise against it due to potential consequences. However, a strategic last-minute decision for Trump to testify might sway a juror, impacting the trial's outcome and future proceedings.
Former federal prosecutor Michael Zeldin discusses the first day of Donald Trump’s first criminal trial. Reproductive rights expert, Mary Ziegler, a professor at UC Davis Law School, discusses the efforts in Arizona to get abortion on the ballot in November. June Grasso hosts.