A jury of 12 Manhattanites has been selected to decide the fate of Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein, who faces two counts of first-degree criminal sexual act and one count of third-degree rape after complaints by three women. The new trial began in Manhattan criminal court last week, when prosecutors and Mr. Weinstein’s legal team began selecting from several pools of eligible jurors.
Seventy prospective jurors were asked to stand before the judge and lawyers, but more than half were dismissed due to scheduling conflicts or inability to be impartial. After four days of selection, a woman gasped when she heard Mr. Weinstein’s name, while others displayed shock, interest, and opinion about him.
The judge and lawyers sifted through dozens of people who expressed varying degrees of shock, interest, and opinion about Mr. Weinstein, whose fall amid accusations of sexual assault and harassment propelled the #MeToo movement. The 12 jurors will now decide Mr. Weinstein’s fate in the trial that has been ongoing since 2020.
Mr. Weinstein was convicted in 2020 of rape and criminal sexual act based on complaints from two women, but his conviction was overturned last year and a new trial was ordered. He is also facing charges in California, with prosecutors adding a new indictment. Mr. Weinstein has pleaded not guilty to all the charges against him.
The jurors were chosen after being questioned by prosecutors and defense lawyers, who asked them about their thoughts on the #MeToo movement and what word came to their minds when they thought of Mr. Weinstein. Some expressed discomfort and took issue with certain comments made during the questioning process, leading to their dismissal.
As the trial continues, the 12 jurors will now have a crucial role in determining Mr. Weinstein’s fate.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/22/nyregion/harvey-weinstein-trial-jury-seated.html