This will take at most an hour, but it seems unlikely each side will take the full 30 mins for voir dire with so few panelists. Susan Hoffinger takes the podium for the prosecution.
Hoffinger asks as a start whether there's anything they've heard thus far that causes jurors cause for concern about being fair and impartial. Seeing none, she turns to B352, who was in real estate.
He clarifies that he knows people who "directly" know Trump. Hoffinger asks what he has talked to them about re: Trump, but he says he tries "not to talk about politics at all" in business or with friends.
Hoffingr asks if he has any views of Trump's reputation in the real estate industry? He's mumbling, but says he has seen Trump's work, and is aware of it, but no further opinion. She asks about his opinion of The Art of the Deal, which he simply calls "entertaining."
"Do you think there's anything about being in the same field as Trump that would cause" him to be unfair?, Hoffinger asks. He's unequivocal: nothing whatsoever.
Now to B269, the lawyer, Hoffinger asks about his profession. He says he's a civil litigator, so he knows virtually nothing about the law at issue in this case, and assures her that he can follow the judge's instructions.
Now to B364, who replies, "Uh oh." Hoffinger asks about his friends who have been convicted of crimes in the past, and brings up Michael Cohen, who pled guilty in 2018 to a number of crimes.
Anything about that fact that would prevent a fair shake to that witness? He replies that if you plea bargain or plea deal, it can mean one of two things: you're looking out for yourself, or you're telling the truth. Because of that, he'll have to really listen to him.
"I was a corrections office in New York City, so I've heard it all," he says, after Hoffinger asks if he can listen with open ears to Cohen's testimony.
Bottom line: B364 assures that he can give a fair listen and not prejudge. Now onto B269, a similar question about Cohen. Will the juror be prejudiced against his credibility given his past admissions of guilt? No. Then to B352, same question, same answer.
Correction to the timing of voir dire: Merchan apparently told the parties they only have 15 mins a side, per pool reports. This reporter at least, is thankful for that particular order.
In addition to witness testimony, Hoffinger mentions there will be quite a few documents in this case, and "documents don't lie." Anyone have an issue with spending a lot of time with documents, spreadsheets, emails, texts?