The process of choosing the jury started for Harvey Weinstein’s second trial on a late Tuesday morning in New York City, following last year’s reversal of the groundbreaking #MeToo verdict against him.
As Weinstein, seated in a wheelchair and clutching a book whose cover was tattered, advanced towards his legal team in the courthouse, a fleeting grin graced his features.
Initially, about seventy potential jurors gathered in the courtroom, and it was Judge Curtis J. Farber who took charge of the jury selection process, making the announcement from the bench.
Initially, the potential candidates were queried if their schedules wouldn’t permit them to participate, then followed by an inquiry about their ability to remain unbiased and render impartial judgement in a case that the judge referred to as “charges of a sexual crime, including rape” and which has received extensive media coverage. However, the judge did not bring up Weinstein’s name during his questioning.
Several potential jurors expressed their inability to serve due to various reasons. Judge Farber observed that a few hands were raised following both questions, implying a partial response. However, the majority of the jury panel then queued up, expressing reservations about serving on this specific case.
Around noon ET, I found myself among a group of about 75 potential jurors called into the courtroom for the second time. Just like before, several dozen of us indicated that we were unable to serve due to work or personal obligations, or had concerns about impartiality.
The judge additionally informed both parties that the trial is likely to conclude during the final week of May, but advised them to be prepared for it extending into the first week of June.
In total, only 49 jurors remained after Farber’s questions.
In 2024, Weinstein was diagnosed with bone marrow cancer and has been incarcerated at Rikers Island prior to his upcoming retrial. In October of the same year, a judge in Manhattan decided that the numerous sexual misconduct charges against Weinstein would be combined for his trial scheduled in 2025.
Because of his cancer diagnosis, the disgraced film producer argued that he wouldn’t be able to attend the trial scheduled for April 15th and asked Judge Farber to bring it forward, ideally to April 7th instead. Weinstein has been receiving treatment at Bellevue Hospital not only for cancer but also leukemia, diabetes, heart disease, and sleep apnea. He underwent an emergency heart surgery in September.
Back in April of this past year, the New York Court of Appeals reversed Harvey Weinstein’s 2020 rape conviction. The appellate court decided that during his original trial, testimonies from three extra accusers were allowed, which should not have been the case. These testimonies were seen as biased because they didn’t offer relevant information about the charges against him. Consequently, the appeals court nullified the conviction and demanded a fresh trial.
In September, an extra charge for alleged sexual misconduct was brought against Weinstein. This came after he was accused of sexually assaulting a woman in a hotel in Manhattan at some point between April 29th and May 6th, 2006. He pleaded not guilty to this accusation.
More to come…
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2025-04-15 19:46