Judge Scott McAfee took a number of steps to protect the identities of jurors in Trump’s RICO trial from intimidation and harassment.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported:
Once the cases reach trial, defendants, reporters and observers will be prohibited from recording, photographing or identifying jurors in any way that might reveal who they are, where they live or other personal details about them, Fulton County Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee ruled. McAfee ordered that lawyers only refer to jurors by their number in court filings or in their remarks in open court.
Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis asked for the extra level of protection after members of the grand jury that indicted Trump and his allies saw their personal identifying information spread across the internet by people angry with the criminal charges they handed up.
The importance of transparency and public knowledge is paramount in Trump’s trials, but given how the former president and his supporters try to contaminate jury pools and also intimidate and harass jurors, it was smart of the judge to give the identities of jurors additional protection.
This is a vital step to protect the physical safety of jurors as the probability of violence grows as the country gets closer to the date when Donald Trump will go on trial.
Trump is being treated like what he is accused of being. A leader of a criminal organization that will jeopardize the safety of a jury of his peers to avoid a felony conviction.
Awards and Professional Memberships
Member of the Society of Professional Journalists and The American Political Science Association
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