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
Related Video and Audio
RTL
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
And then there were 33
There were 96 people in the first panel of prospective jurors brought into the courtroom today.
In a matter of minutes, 63 were dismissed because they said they could not be impartial in Trump's hush-money case.
Now that court has resumed, those 33 remaining people will be asked more questions and we will likely see more excused before the day is out. Then there are hundreds more still waiting to be called to the court room.
Finding an impartial jury in New York is going to take some time, probably more than a week.
It's a blue state, meaning voters are largely Democrats.
And Trump's relationship with the city, where he made a name for himself as a real estate tycoon, is strained, to say the least.
BBC reporter Madeline Halpert reported on the challenges of jury selection for this trial. You can read her coverage here.
Protests calm down outside court
Pratiksha Ghildial
Reporting from outside court
While court pauses, let's take a look at what it's like here outside.
It’s getting warmer. The hats and sunscreen in the press pen are out as journalists wait to hear more about the jury selection process taking place inside.
NYPD officers, in their characteristic navy blue uniforms, some wearing sunglasses, are keeping an eye on protesters and passersby.
The atmosphere feels slightly quieter than this morning’s melee.
Court takes a quick break
The court has paused for a short break. Donald Trump and his lawyers have left the courtroom, and the prospective jurors have been excused.
'I just couldn't do it', prospective juror says
Everyone is curious to hear more from the prospective jurors who were dismissed.
The pool reporters said they heard one in the hallway who was leaving the courtroom saying, "I just couldn't do it".
Woman's one word answer gets her excused from trial
Kayla Epstein
Reporting from court
We have our first juror curveball.
The question was:
The woman being asked, answered: "Yes".
Justice Merchan asks if either legal party objects to excusing the juror.
The prosecutors do not, but Trump's lawyer does.
Ultimately, she was excused, and they refill her seat with another juror.
A reminder that there are 500 prospective jurors here today.
More jurors are excused
Kayla Epstein
Reporting from court
The cameras turned back on suddenly just a moment ago. I can now see 18 people seated in the jury box as voir dire - or questioning of the jury pool - begins.
The prospects are reading their responses to a long jury questionnaire one by one. Trump is holding a piece of paper that appears to be a copy of the question list. He is following along as the first jurors respond.
About half of the first jury panel departed after saying it could not be impartial, and at least nine others were excused for undisclosed reasons.
That should leave about a third of the 96 prospective jurors who just entered the courtroom a moment ago.
‘Have you ever supported the Boogaloo Boys?’
We're now at the stage of the day where prospective jurors are answering a list of questions that both legal teams will use to decide on the final panel of jurors.
Some questions are standard, like what neighbourhood do you live in?
Others hint at how tricky it could be to find impartial people in New York, the Democratic city where Trump first made his name as a real estate tycoon. Here are some of the more unique jury questions:
You can read more of the juror questions here.
BreakingAt least 50 jurors excused
Kayla Epstein
Reporting from court
More than half of the first panel of 96 jurors have been excused after saying they can't be fair and impartial.
We can't see them here on the overflow feed because they cut the video to protect the jurors' identities.
We could hear, however, Justice Merchan calling out numbers of jurors who have volunteered the fact that they cannot be impartial.
Trump sits with a bowed head, rocking back and forth in his chair
Kayla Epstein
Reporting from court
From our view from the court camera, Donald Trump looks incredibly sombre right now.
He is fidgeting a lot in his seat. For a moment, as Justice Merchan instructed the jurors, Trump rocked back and forth in his chair.
Then he bent his head and looked down. At some points, it looks like his eyes are closed.
Reporters here with me can't decide if the former president is asleep or just closing his eyes.
The case against Donald Trump
Justice Merchan has explained to potential jurors what Trump has been charged with.
The allegations are that Trump falsified business records to conceal an agreement to unlawfully influence the 2016 presidential election.
"Specifically, it is alleged that Donald Trump made or caused false business records to hide the true nature of payments made to Michael Cohen" - his former lawyer - "by characterising them as payment for legal services".
Prosecutors allege the payments were intended to reimburse Cohen for money paid to porn star Stormy Daniels.
The payment, which was made in the weeks before the 2016 presidential election, was allegedly intended "to prevent her from publicly revealing details about a past sexual encounter with Donald Trump".
Ordinarily, falsifying business records is considered a misdemeanour - or low-level offence - in New York.
But when it is done to conceal a crime - in this case alleged election interference - it can be elevated to a more serious felony charge.
Judge outlines jury selection process
Kayla Epstein
Reporting from court
Justice Merchan is now beginning the process of instructing the potential jurors.
“The name of this case is the people of the state of New York vs Donald Trump,” he says.
He then reads the potential jurors a summary of the case, and begins to explain the process of selecting the jury.
Trump looks toward Justice Merchan. Occasionally his eyes dart toward the jury box.
Laughs, smirks and stares as trial enters next phase
As prospective jurors walked into the courtroom, they sat in the back rows and stretched their necks to get a view of Trump.
One woman laughed and put her hand over her mouth while looking at the person sitting next to her.
Trump, meanwhile, stood and turned around when he was called as the defendant, appearing to smirk at prospective jurors.
Potential jurors sworn in
The first batch of potential jurors have just been sworn in. They are listening to instructions from the judge.
First prospective jurors enter the courtroom
After a morning that saw legal teams haggling over what evidence can be presented at trial and over whether Trump violated a gag order, the jury selection process is now about to get under way.
Ninety-six jurors ready to be brought in, judge says
Justice Merchan is now back at the bench.
"I'm told we have 96 jurors ready to come in," he says.
Potential jurors making their way through security
Kayla Epstein
Reporting from court
Here's how things look from inside the court, as we await the first 96 potential jurors to make their way into the courtroom. They are currently getting through security.
I'm in a room down the hall from where Trump is standing trial. About 100 other reporters, public observers and police officers are with me.
We're watching the proceedings on video screens, and we're locked in the room while the jury pool gets through security.
It is very warm in here, and we are all packed together shoulder-to-shoulder on the court benches.
My biggest complaint: The court's staff has been trying to get the air conditioning going, but it hasn't had much effect.
Trump appears more engaged after a break
Kayla Epstein
Reporting from court
Back from a break, Trump looks more engaged than he did towards the end of this morning's session.
He's talking to his lawyers on either side, gesturing with his hands. At one point, he all but puts Todd Blanche (his attorney) in a bear hug as he lurches over to whisper something into his ear.
Trump keeps his arm around Blanche’s shoulder as he continues to speak – it seems like whatever he's saying, it was an urgent matter for Trump.
A quick recap of the morning's proceedings
Kayla Epstein
Reporting from court
As the afternoon session gets underway, here's a quick recap of what happened this morning at Donald Trump's "hush-money" trial:
Jury selection process begins with 96 potential jurors
Kayla Epstein
Reporting from court
Justice Merchan is getting the jury selection process started with a batch of 96 potential jurors who will soon enter the courtroom.
Given the contentious nature of the case, the court is going to do everything it can to protect the jury. Justice Merchan is going over the rules for how both parties will learn their names.
Each juror will be given a number. The lawyers will get a sheet of paper with names that correspond to those numbers.
But Justice Merchan warns sternly that the lawyers must not photograph, copy or share that document in any way. When they’re done with the first batch of 96, the parties must return the list to Justice Merchan.
My colleague Madeline Halpert has reported on the jury selection effort. You can read her coverage here.
Judge to hold hearing on gag order
Before the lunch break, prosecutors asked for Trump to be fined for violating his gag order in the case, which bars him from making public comments about some of the people related to the case.
The DA's office argues three of his social media posts violate that order.
Justice Merchan says he'll hold a hearing on the issue on 24 April.
Trump's legal team has until 19 April to file a written response to the prosecutors' request.