Political affiliation not included in jury questionnaire for Trump’s hush money trial

State Judge Juan Merchan, who is overseeing former US president Donald Trump’s hush money trial, on Monday (Apr 8) approved a questionnaire for jury selection. She also approved instructions for prospective jurors as the trial is set to begin next week.

The questionnaire contains 42 numbered questions on a range of topics. Interestingly, it doesn’t carry questions asking about party affiliation, political contributions or voting history.

The question of political affiliation

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Trump’s attorneys had earlier argued that asking out these questions was necessary as to whether the prospective jurors liked Trump or not was significant for the case. The judge dismissed the plea, saying that “contrary to defense counsel’s arguments, the purpose of jury selection is not to determine whether a prospective juror likes or does not like one of the parties.”

"Such questions are irrelevant because they do not go to the issue of the prospective juror’s qualifications," Merchan wrote. "The ultimate issue is whether the prospective juror can ensure us that they will set aside any personal feelings or biases and render a decision that is based on the evidence and the law," he added.

Although he said the hints about the political affiliations can be derived from the answers to other questions already included in the questionnaire.

Watch:WION Rewind 2023: This year saw Trump rising from the ashes

The question about the political affiliation of the jurors has also been raised in Trump's classified documents case in Florida.

Anonymity of the prospective jurors

In the hush money trial, Judge Merchan also said that steps would be taken to ensure the anonymity of the prospective jurors. They will be informed before they enter the courtroom that they will be identified by the numbers printed on their jury summonses “as a necessary measure to ensure anonymity.”

Last month, he ruled that the names of the jurors would be shielded from media, citing the “likelihood of bribery, jury tampering, or of physical injury or harassment of juror(s).”

The questionnaire came as a state appeal court dismissed Trump’s efforts to delay the trial, now set to begin on April 15.

(With inputs from agencies)