Harvey Weinstein trial: How do you select a jury?
Jury selection often takes no more than a few hours, or a day or two.
Xorje Olivares, who attended the court on 8 January as a prospective juror, was one of the dozens of people who ruled themselves out. Those remaining are asked to complete a questionnaire, where they are asked about their education, prior jury service, whether they know people working in the entertainment industry, and whether they have been a victim of physical or sexual abuse.Then, lawyers for both sides can question them in court, and get potential jurors dismissed if the judge agrees that they are not impartial - this is known as a challenge for cause.
In Mr Weinstein's trial, lawyers on each side are allowed to dismiss up to 20 potential regular jurors, says Prof Hans. Lawyers from both sides will try to establish a jury that they believe will be more favourable to their side.The prosecution will want jurors who can relate to the alleged victims, while the defence will want jurors who"see themselves as the defendant", says Thaddeus Hoffmeister, a law professor at the University of Dayton.
They are also likely to search public social media postings from all prospective jurors to see whether they have commented on the #MeToo movement - although they are not allowed to"friend" jurors. Prof Hans says the questionnaire results, and online research, can often help lawyers"identify in advance people who will be close minded to their case".
"There must have been several hundred people on the courtroom at the time. It was a little unnerving, because you don't have anyone there with you in the jury box - you're alone and handed a microphone so that everyone in the court room can hear what you have to say."
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