CBS NEWS
A woman who was selected to serve on the jury in former President Donald Trump’s criminal trial in New York was excused Thursday after she expressed concerns about being identified publicly and her ability to remain impartial.
The juror, a young woman who was chosen to serve on Tuesday, said she “definitely has concerns now” after friends and family asked her if she was a juror, based on reports in the media about those who have been selected.
“Aspects of my identity have already been out there in public. Yesterday alone, I had friends and family push things to me,” she told the court on Thursday. “I don’t think at this point that I can be fair and unbiased.”
Judge Juan Merchan immediately reprimanded the press for reporting what he considers too much information about the jurors. He said questions about potential jurors’ employers would be redacted from the court record moving forward, and directed reporters not to mention jurors’ physical appearance.
