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ancianita

(36,101 posts)
Mon Apr 15, 2024, 10:23 AM Apr 15

Can Trump Get a Jury Who Will Give Him a Fair Shake? My Expert Opinion Is Yes, and Here's Why.

Here's to the bedrock of our democracy.

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/15/opinion/trump-trial-jury.html

"...Do jurors lie when questioned by the judge or lawyers? In my experience, based primarily on post-verdict investigations, most do not. But one or two bad apples will not spoil the rest. Juries are better than the sum of their parts.

Ultimately, for the jurors, the judge’s words to them will be crucial to their understanding of their role. And from those words, jurors should feel that Judge Merchan understands the difficulties they face in having to put to one side their pre-existing views.

If I were offering him advice in this case, I would suggest that Judge Merchan make two points.

He should emphasize, with a show of empathy, the great importance of fair juries. “Some of you may be thinking, ‘I have strong opinions. I cannot do this.’ Please think carefully about this,” he might tell them. “You cannot stop knowing what you know. But the evidence presented here can and must be at the forefront of your thinking.”

And he should use ennobling words to underscore the significance to the jurors of their role in sitting in judgment of Mr. Trump, whom they must presume is innocent but is charged with criminal wrongdoing.

“No one can do this job better than those of you selected to serve as jurors,” he might tell them. “As citizens of this country, we depend on one another to rise to the challenge of moments like these. We are grateful for the commitment you will apply to achieve fairness. The evidence deserves your open-minded attention. Trial by jury is bedrock to our democracy.”

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