‘Juror No. 4’ excused after prosecutors raised concerns that he hid past arrest — we’re down to five jurors now
A man who had occupied the fourth seat on the jury has been excused after prosecutors this morning raised concerns that he may have failed to disclose a past arrest.
Justice Juan Merchan’s ruling came after a four-minute conference at the bench in which the man occasionally used his hands to talk, and at one point appeared animated and annoyed.
“Let me ask you a question,” the juror could be heard to say as he looked and gestured at the prosecutors. “Do you all feel this way?”
The rest of the conversation could not be heard.
When the court went back on the record, Merchan directed that the juror be tossed.
After starting the day with seven jurors, we’re now down to five.
New York Supreme Court Justice Juan Merchan “abruptly” dismissed a previously approved juror on Thursday after she raised concerns about her identity becoming public, according to court reporters.
Court reporters published descriptions of the jurors after the judge sat seven of them upon going through the selection process. The potential jurors are asked 42 questions, and their social media accounts are scrutinized.
The woman told the judge overseeing the case that she had developed concerns about her identity becoming public. Although the judge has kept prospective jurors’ names private, they have disclosed their employers and other identifying information in court.
After excusing her, the judge, Juan M. Merchan, instructed reporters to no longer detail where a prospective juror works. “I have the legal authority to do it,” the judge said of blocking the news media from reporting identifying employer information.
