The Lawyer for Former FTX CEO Argues Jury Questions in Fraud Trial Are Biased
According to the lawyer representing Sam Bankman-Fried, the former CEO of defunct crypto exchange FTX, the proposed jury questions for his upcoming fraud trial may lead to biased responses. In a court filing on September 29, attorney Mark Cohen claimed that the questions presented by the US government could result in an unfair trial for Bankman-Fried.
“The Government’s proposed voir dire discourages full disclosure from potential jurors, fails to elicit sufficient information to allow the defense to ascertain potential juror bias, and risks tainting the jury by presenting the allegations in a prejudicial manner.”
Cohen also argued that the language used in the jury selection questions already assumes Bankman-Fried’s guilt in fraud and money laundering. He emphasized that it is crucial for the court to remind potential jurors that Bankman-Fried is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Additionally, Cohen suggested using the voir dire proposed by Bankman-Fried. However, the US government objected to certain questions related to pretrial publicity, effective altruism, political donations and lobbying, and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
Hot Take: Defense Claims Bias in Jury Questions for Fraud Trial
The lawyer representing Sam Bankman-Fried believes that the jury questions proposed by the US government for his fraud trial are biased and may lead to an unfair trial. The defense argues that these questions discourage transparency from potential jurors and fail to address potential biases adequately. They also contend that the language used in the questions assumes Bankman-Fried’s guilt rather than treating it as an allegation.
The defense emphasizes the importance of reminding potential jurors about Bankman-Fried’s presumption of innocence. They propose using their own voir dire questions, which the government has objected to on various topics. As the trial progresses, it remains to be seen how the court will handle these concerns and ensure a fair process for all parties involved.
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