The world held its breath amid the topsy-turvy jury selection process for Donald Trump’s historic criminal trial, but the 12-person panel has finally been chosen.
The wait to see which jurors would help decide the former president’s fate in the hush money case had been a rollercoaster ride involving problems of impartiality and revealed identities.
But now, we know the jury is made up of seven men and five women with a wide range of backgrounds and live in various parts of Manhattan, from Harlem to Hell’s Kitchen.
Multiple jurors who remain said they held no strong opinions on the controversial man at the centre of the trial, while others said they do not keep up with current affairs.
While the exact ages and ethnicities of those on the jury have been kept a secret, their jobs have been revealed.
READ MORE: Full jury chosen in Donald Trump’s hush money trial after dozens dismissed
But later in the week, Judge Juan Merchan was forced to expel on jury member whose identity was exposed on the third day of the trial.
She said in court: “Aspects of my identity have already been out there in public. Yesterday alone, I had friends and family push things on me. I don’t think at this point that I can be fair and unbiased”
Another juror was also axed after she said she “slept on it overnight” and decided she could not remain impartial.
The jury is technically made up of 18 people, 12 of whom will sit in the jury box during the trial. There will also be six alternates.
Judge Juan Merchan said simply at the end of a long day in court on Thursday once things wrapped up: “We have our jury.”
Trump branded the turbulent selection process as a “mess” while speaking to reporters outside the Manhatten courtroom.
The former president has pleaded not guilty to 34 felony counts of falsification of business records concerning a $130,000 payment made to adult film star Stormy Daniels.
The rapid progress Thursday afternoon propelled the case closer to opening statements and weeks of testimony in the case.
