Trump Trial Judge Scolds the Press for Reporting Too Much Information About Jurors: Use ‘Common Sense’

Isaac SchorrApr 18th, 2024, 10:11 am
 
Judge Juan Merchan and Donald Trump

AP Photo/Seth Wenig; AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura

Judge Juan Merchan, who is presiding over former president and presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump’s hush money trial in New York City, scolded the press for reporting on identifying information about the jurors in the case on Thursday.

Merchan and the parties are going through the arduous work of constructing a fair jury this week. Seven of 18 jurors had been selected after proceedings on Monday and Tuesday, but one of those seven was dismissed over fairness concerns early on Thursday morning.

After that juror’s dismissal, Merchan addressed the press directly, according to MSNBC contributor Adam Klasfeld, telling them that reporting on too much background information about the jurors “defeats the purpose” of anonymity — which is supposed to insulate them from outside pressures and protect their safety.

“The press is certainly able and permitted to write about anything that’s on the record, because it’s on the record,” said Merchan. “But I’m directing that the press simply applies common sense.”

A number of media outlets have toed the line on the jurors selected so far. On Tuesday, ABC News ran a story headlined “Who are the first 7 jurors of Trump’s historic criminal trial” that went on to reveal information about where the jurors live, what they do for work, and more.

“Here’s everything you need to know about the first seven jurors of Trump’s historic criminal trial,” proclaimed ABC in several tweets promoting the article.

Slate, The Washington Post, CBS, and Axios have all run similar stories providing potentially identifying information about the jurors.

Have a tip we should know? tips@mediaite.com

Filed Under: