"We haven't had the hearing yet," Merchan says as Bove and Conroy have a brief back and forth.
Steinglass says into the record they have served defense with the order Merchan just signed. Merchan wants to convey one more concern. Steinglass alerted judge of email that DA found as part of its research, came across info that called into question veracity of Juror 4's answers
Juror 4 was directed to come in at 9:15 a.m., but now at almost 9:50 a.m. juror is still not here. Steinglass gives context: "we can confirm it involves the juror in question, but we did discover"—Merchan cuts him off briefly.
The DA was doing research into Juror 4 and found information re: past involvement in a corruption case, which the juror did not disclose during the questionnaire or voir dire. But, we have to table this, because the juror has still not arrived.
"We have 96 jurors, any reason why we can't bring them in here?" Merchan asks. They're coming in. Merchan hands each side 5 copies with juror numbers, and one copy with actual names. After an interesting morning so far, the second panel is about to kick off.
We were starting to seat jurors at a breakneck pace by the end of Day 2, but today we're moving in the opposite direction. A full jury and opening arguments by Monday seems like a tall order at this point. But the day is young.
Per the pool: "The 96 new prospective jurors are entering the courtroom. In order to make room for them, Jason Miller and another Trump aide have moved to the second row behind the defense table. Trump campaign spokesman Steven Cheung has left the courtroom."
Another pool reporter notes that as the new panel files into the courtroom, some of the jurors are "looking up surprised to see Trump at the defense table. Trump appears keenly attentive to those potential jurors seated in the jury box."
This panel has already been sworn in, so Merchan welcomes the new jurors, and makes the now familiar introductions. He thanks them for their promptness. Trump seems to be scanning the new arrivals.
As Merchan reads the indictment, including the number of counts, Trump shakes his head as he looks down at the table.
A pool reporter notes that, curiously, "when the defense is introduced to the potential jurors seated in the audience, Trump does not stand up like his legal team does to turn and face them."
Hoffinger is back in the middle seat of the prosecution's table, having replaced Conroy.