Thread by @innercitypress

OK - US v. #GhislaineMaxwell jury selection Day 2, afternoon, Judge Alison Nathan (said to be nominated for 2d Cir Court of Appeals) questioning prospective Juror 128. Inner City Press is covering innercitypress.com/sdnytrial20max…
and will live tweet, thread below

Judge Nathan: I'll begin trial on Nov 29 and we estimate six weeks. Can you serve?
Juror: There might be a problem with my job.
Judge Nathan: But you'd still get paid?
Juror: Yes.

Judge Nathan: So it's feasible. You answered that you heard about Ms. Maxwell?
Juror: That she was Epstein's assistant.
Judge Nathan: Could you still be fair?
Juror: Yes.

Next prospective juror also wants to talk Epstein: "He was in Florida, then he was here across the street [meaning the now-empty MCC, across from the SDNY courthouse], and that he died."
Judge Nathan: Could you be fair?
Juror: Yes.

Numbers game:
Now Judge Nathan says, On November 29 we'll start with the first four qualified prospective jurors, for your to exercise peremptory strikes on.
Maxwell's counsel: Starting with the lowest numbers?
Judge Nathan: Yes.

Maxwell's counsel suggested starting from the higher numbers.
Judge Nathan: Why, other than you prefer higher numbers?
Maxwell's lawyer asks if the assignment of numbers was randomized.
Judge Nathan said she thinks so.

Judge Nathan: The peremptories will eat into our trial time. But we'll do them then go straight into opening statements.
Parties ask for a change.
Judge Nathan: I never do it but I will... Going out with a bang.

Judge Nathan: The first 40 will go to 1 courtroom, next 20 to a 2d, for social distancing.
[With COVID still obviously a factor, why is there no public call-in line?!?]
Judge Nathan: I'll have staff, if anyone answers they've heard about the case on social media.

Now an argument is made to Judge Nathan against Juror 27, who spoke about Maxwell's condition of confinement. "This juror obviously knows that the defendant is incarcerated. We would challenge this juror for cause."

Another argument: Most of them, if they've read about the case, know she's incarcerated.
Judge Nathan: Largely because of the defense motions... I'm getting a note from the Jury Department, that numbers were assigned randomly. I will get confirmation.