Prosecutors are seeking a Feb. 2 deadline to jointly submit a written jury questionnaire ahead of in-person jury selection.
On Tuesday, federal prosecutors asked the Florida judge presiding over former President Donald Trump's classified documents trial to approve a written jury questionnaire ahead of an in-person selection process, given the high profile of the case.
In a Dec. 19 motion to U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon, special prosecutor Jack Smith's office said, "Because the pre-trial publicity surrounding this case is substantial, the Government recommends a thorough jury selection process, including a written questionnaire completed by potential jurors before in-person voir dire."
The jury questionnaire would form part of a comprehensive jury selection process that prosecutors seek to expedite the selection process by identifying uncontested strikes for cause and hardship before in-person voir dire, a process in which potential jurors are screened to determine their impartiality.
Citing the high profile of the case, Mr. Smith's office also argues that using a jury questionnaire in addition to in-person voir dire will safeguard President Trump's Sixth Amendment right to a fair and efficient jury selection process.
"A written questionnaire, used as part of a comprehensive voir dire process, is a potent tool to sift out potential jury bias in cases where there has been substantial media attention," Mr. Smith's office said in the filing.
The motion, noting the 10-week lead time needed in other cases, seeks a Feb. 2, 2024, deadline for the parties to submit a proposed jury questionnaire to Judge Cannon and highlight any disagreement points.
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