Former US President Trump will face his first criminal trial on April 15. The entire trial process, from jury selection to the final verdict, is expected to last six to eight weeks. This high-profile trial first involves the payment of hush money to the famous adult film star Stormy Daniels in 2016. As the first of four pending criminal cases, it will directly affect the potential Trump. The fate of the 2024 Republican presidential candidates. In order to fully track the progress of this case, we have sorted out the basic process of a criminal trial:
1. Jury convening. Hundreds of New York County residents have received jury duty notices, requiring them to arrive at Manhattan Criminal Court for jury duty on April 15.
2. Juror screening and elimination. The judge and attorneys from both sides will delve into the backgrounds and perceptions of potential jurors to ensure they have the ability to rule fairly and impartially. At this stage, some jurors may be exempted for statutory reasons, that is, there are irresistible reasons that make them unable to serve as jurors; in addition, lawyers on both sides also have the right to remove them at will without stating specific reasons. of jurors.
3.The jurors were sworn in. After selection, jurors and alternate jurors will take an oath and promise to perform their duties in a fair and selfless manner. The judge will also emphasize that jurors should avoid media coverage until the trial is over and are prohibited from discussing the case with others, including other jurors.
4. Opening Statement. Lawyers for both the prosecution and defense will elaborate on their respective understandings of the case and charging theories, and reveal in advance the evidence clues expected to be presented to the jury. It is worth noting that the lawyer's opening statement is not actual evidence and is only for the jury's reference and understanding.
5. The prosecution submitted evidence. Prosecutors will gradually build the facts of the case through witness testimony and physical evidence. Defense lawyers have the right to question prosecution witnesses with the purpose of questioning or weakening the validity of their testimony. The witness's actual responses will be considered evidence, not the attorney's questions themselves.
6. Defendant’s defense stage. Although criminal defendants are under no obligation to prove their innocence, Trump's legal team reportedly plans to call at least one witness to the stand. At the same time, Trump has the right to exercise the right of silence and does not have to testify in court in person. The jury must respect and not cast negative light on the defendant's conduct when he or she fails to testify.
7. The prosecutor’s rebuttal stage. The prosecutor may submit additional evidence against the defense evidence. However, prosecutors do not have to provide rebuttal evidence.
8. Closing argument. Lawyers for both the prosecution and the defense made closing arguments respectively, trying to persuade the jury to adopt their own views. The prosecution speaks first, as they bear the burden of proof, and then defense attorneys make their closing arguments, with the prosecution having the final say in responding to the defense arguments.
9.Jury instructions and explanation of charges. The judge instructs the jury in detail on the specific charges against the defendant and the applicable legal provisions that must be considered.
10.Jury deliberations. A jury of 12 jurors will carefully consider all the evidence presented during the trial and the charges against the defendants. The jury's decision must be unanimous. They will receive a set of copies of all admitted evidence at the trial and can apply for a review of witness statements if necessary. The jury can communicate with the court in writing and raise questions about the case, at which time all parties need to discuss the best way to respond.
11.Jury verdict. When the jury reaches a decision, it will announce the verdict in court and verify one by one whether the jurors' votes are consistent with the results read out in court. If the jury encounters disagreement during deliberations, the judge may urge them to continue working toward consensus and at least once try to reach a unified verdict. If an agreement is never reached, the judge may ultimately declare a mistrial, creating a hung jury situation.
12. Sentencing stage. If the jury finds the defendant guilty, the judge will sentence the defendant after the sentencing hearing.
