No lawyer has ever had to ask prospective jurors whether they could set aside their personal feelings about a president, sitting or former, to judge whether he’s guilty of a crime.
“I will not have any jurors intimidated in this courtroom," Judge Juan Merchan said after Trump appeared to speak as a prospective juror was being questioned.
The Supreme Court is considering whether a charge of seeking to obstruct an official proceeding, which Trump also faces, can be applied to the events of Jan. 6, 2021.
The proceedings mark the first time a former American president has faced trial on criminal charges, which stem from a $130,000 payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels to keep her quiet about an alleged affair with Trump, who denies any relationship.
While Trump is the only defendant in the criminal case, prosecutors have said there are several other people involved in the alleged “catch and kill” scheme.