First jurors sworn in after judge's stern warning to Trump
With Kayla Epstein, Madeline Halpert and Nada Tawfik reporting from court in New York
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With Kayla Epstein, Madeline Halpert and Nada Tawfik reporting from court in New York
Live Reporting
Edited by Brandon Livesay and Phil McCausland
All times stated are UK
Court breaks for 10 minutes
Trump's lawyers have asked for a sidebar with the judge, so court is taking a short break.
Fresh sketch shows Trump with his legal team
The first court sketch from day two of Trump's hush-money trial has been released.
The picture shows Trump next to his lawyer at the defence table observing the video screen that sits in front of them.
Sketch artists are a common feature of high-profile criminal trials, particularly when access to camera operators are limited by court rules.
Last year, the BBC's Sam Cabral spoke to three court artists about their different versions of the former president.
You can read his in-depth coverage here.
The next phase of questioning begins
Madeline Halpert
Reporting from court
The prosecution is asking specific jurors how they feel about their ability to be impartial in this case. No jurors raise their hand when he asks if they have concerns.
One man says the case "doesn't really have anything to do with my political inclinations".
He says he'll judge the case based on its merits.
Another woman says she was on vacation on a lake with no Wi-Fi in February, so had limited access to news about it.
As the jurors respond, Trump looks forward at them and occasionally glances to his lawyers sitting on either side of him as well.
First person excused from jury today doubtful on finding impartial panel
Nada Tawfik
Reporting from court
Video content
I was able to speak with a prospective juror who was the first one excused today.
He didn’t want to share his name, but he is a 40-year-old who works in accounting and is originally from Texas. He told the court he is currently a Manhattanite who gets his news from Fox News and Barstool Sports.
“Growing up a bunch of family and friends were Republicans. It’s probably going to be hard to for me to be impartial," he told Judge Merchan, who dismissed him.
After getting out of court, he described the experience of being called for this case as surreal. He expressed concern that serving as a juror would’ve been a burden that he would carry for the rest of his life.
“People are going to know that you were on one side or the other side of history,” he told me.
He said he wanted to have faith that jurors could serve impartially in this historic case, but that it was tough given Donald Trump is such a polarising figure.
This case is about whether this man broke the law - Prosecutor
Madeline Halpert
Reporting from court
Prosecutors are explaining what they're looking for in a prospective juror.
They're asking them to be "really honest" about how they feel about the case, says Joshua Steinglass, a lawyer for the District Attorney's office.
"This is not a referendum on Donald Trump," he says.
"This case is about whether this man broke the law."
After two-thirds of jury panel dismissed, questioning gets serious
Kayla Epstein
Reporting from court
After a few swaps, sicknesses, and dismissals, the first batch of 18 jurors who were initially placed in the jury box are done reading out their questionnaires.
Each juror is now going to be questioned by the Manhattan District Attorneys office and Trump’s lawyers. They will be able to object to prospective jurors, but only so many times.
This is merely one round of what could be several cycles of questioning as the judge, prosecutors, and defence attorneys work to winnow down a jury pool of hundreds into 12 people they think are best to judge whether Trump committed a crime.
Many people have been excused, what happens to those who remain?
Madeline Halpert
Reporting from court
Nearing the end of the morning session in court, we have several jurors who are still in the running.
But that doesn't mean they've been picked to serve.
Both the defence and prosecutors are entitled to dismiss prospective jurors they have concerns about.
In this case, each side has 10 "peremptory" challenges, meaning they can dismiss a prospective juror for no reason (but not for racial or other biases).
After that, they have an unlimited number of challenges "for cause", meaning they must have a sufficient explanation for not wanting them to serve.
Judge jokes it will be a problem if they are still here in September
Madeline Halpert
Reporting from court
One of the prospective jurors today is a software engineer at the Disney Company.
She's worried about making her sister's wedding in September and asks the judge if it will be all right to go.
He says yes, joking that it would be "a problem" if the court was still in session in September.
Though it's unlikely to last that long, the trial could take up to eight weeks, and potentially even longer, depending on how long it takes to find 12 impartial jurors.
A reader of Trump's literary works appears in the jury pool
Kayla Epstein
Reporting from court
We have a prospective juror who says he has read not one but at least two of Donald Trump’s books.
A man from Lower Manhattan with greying hair and dark-rimmed glasses says that he has read The Art of the Deal and How to Get Rich - both authored by the former president.
He also read another of Trump's books but could not recall the title, eliciting a chuckle from Trump at the defence tables who shuffles through papers while the questioning continued.
Though he's read Trump's work and several of his wife's family members are Republican Party lobbyists, the man says there is nothing "that would prevent me from being a fair and impartial juror".
He does note, however, that it would be difficult not to discuss the case with his wife.
The search for impartial jurors continues
Madeline Halpert
Reporting from court
During just the first two days of jury selection, we've seen how hard it could be to find 12 impartial New Yorkers and several alternates to serve on this jury in the Donald Trump's trial.
Yesterday, more than half of the first batch of jurors were excused because they said they could not be impartial. Today, several people have already been excused for the same reason.
Experts say the high-profile nature of the trial adds to the difficulties.
"There's nobody in the country who doesn't have an opinion one way or another," former Manhattan prosecutor Jeremy Saland told me.
These challenges mean it could take even longer than expected - one to two weeks - to find New Yorkers who can set aside their feelings about Trump to give him the fair trial everyone in the US is entitled to.
You can learn more about the jury selection process here.
Some jurors try to get dismissed - others cause courtroom to break out in giggles
Kayla Epstein
Reporting from court
Despite the high stakes of this trial, the jurors are managing to sneak in some moments of levity.
Responding to a question about what he does in his spare time, a recent juror deadpans, "I have no spare time".
His follow up, about his hobbies, is somewhat endearing: My hobby is my family, he says.
Another potential juror got the courtroom chuckling when she said that she dated a lawyer once - and it "ended fine".
It's unclear whether that line drew a guffaw from Trump's lawyers and the prosecutors.
Being a juror in a Trump trial won't be easy
Kayla Epstein
Reporting from court
Jury selection is giving us an important reminder that this trial will not only be a marathon commitment for Trump, the lawyers, the judge, and the press, but for the 12 people who will ultimately decide Trump's fate.
Two potential jurors have told Justice Merchan they have pressing personal conflicts during the time the trial will take place, including one man who said his best friend's wedding was scheduled for June.
These prospective jurors are New Yorkers with jobs, personal lives and families, and a six to eight week trial will be a big sacrifice for them.
And let's also not forget that being a juror in a Trump trial will carry its own unique pressures.
One hour in, three prospective jurors are gone
Madeline Halpert
Reporting from court
Less than an hour into court today, so far three prospective jurors have already been excused, leaving about 30 from that first group of 96.
Two out of the three jurors were excused because they said upon reflection, they realised they could not be impartial.
Another was excused because of a scheduling conflict.
A glimpse inside the courtroom
Madeline Halpert
Reporting from court
Donald Trump's expression has remained the same while we've heard from potential jurors this morning.
He is looking straight ahead with a serious expression as his lawyers take copious notes next to him.
Another potential juror excused after being quizzed by judge
Kayla Epstein
Reporting from court
The very first juror of the day has been excused after saying his upbringing in Texas and Republican political views might make it hard for him to be impartial.
The man, who said he worked in finance, listened to the Barstool Sports podcast, and enjoyed golfing in his spare time, worried he had “unconscious bias” which might impact his thinking as a juror.
Justice Merchan asked him if he was certain he could not be impartial, because the lawyers needed to know.
After calling the man up to the bench for a brief discussion, Justice Merchan dismissed him.
Potential juror says he may have unconscious bias
Madeline Halpert
Reporting from court
We're getting started with jury selection again today.
First up is a new prospective juror who is replacing someone from yesterday who did not show up today.
The man is answering the 42-question questionnaire, telling the court he lives in the neighbourhood of Nomad and reads both the New York Times and Fox News.
In his spare time, he plays golf and hangs out with friends.
He also tells the court he may have some unconscious bias because he's from Texas and works in finance.
Prospective jurors file into the courtroom
The prospective jurors have made their way through security and they are now entering the courtroom
After Justice Merchan took the bench at 0945 local time (1445 BMT), he noted there are 32 jurors left.
Two jurors who are late will sit in the audience when they eventually show up and will be used in the next group of prospects later today.
Trump didn't appear to react when the early jury panel filed in - the former president just stared straight ahead.
Journalist peers through binoculars to get a better view
Madeline Halpert
Reporting from court
It's packed here in the overflow room in court today.
For some, the view of the screen that shows today's court session is obstructed.
But journalists are always prepared - one reporter has brought a pair of binoculars so she can better see what's taking place in the courtroom nearby.
Trump well aware of missed time on campaign trail
Back to Trump's comments before he entered the courtroom.
As he does often, the former president attacked the judge and the case itself.
But the presumptive Republican nominee for president also complained that he was missing time in key swing states ahead of the US election in November - and took a jab at his opponent, President Joe Biden.
"I should be right now in Pennsylvania and Florida - in many other states - North Carolina, Georgia, campaigning," he said. "This is all coming from the Biden White House because the guy can't put two sentences together. He can't campaign."
Biden will spend the next three days campaigning in Pennsylvania.
Court is in session
Kayla Epstein
Reporting from court
"All rise."
With those words, the second day of Trump's hush-money trial is now under way.
Trump is at the defence table, flanked by three of his lawyers.