The Governmentβs Proposed Jury Questions
The legal counsel representing Sam Bankman-Fried (SBF), the former boss of the now-defunct FTX exchange, has raised concerns about the government’s proposed queries during jury selection. The FTX co-founder is set to face a six-week trial, which will begin with jury selection on October 3, 2023.
In September, both the prosecutors and the defense counsel submitted their questions for jury selection. The prosecutors challenged Bankman-Fried’s proposed questions, deeming them “unnecessarily intrusive.”
Accusations of Prejudice
In a court filing on September 29, Bankman-Fried’s attorney, Mark Cohen, argued that the United States’ proposed questions for jury selection are biased and could lead to an unfair judgment against the defendant.
Cohen wrote in a letter to Judge Lewis Kaplan:
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 highlighted that the language used in the prosecutors’ proposed questions portrays a prejudiced image of his client. He also noted that certain assertions made by the government are unnecessary and could prejudice jurors.
Request for Fair Opportunity
Beyond challenging the government’s proposed questions, Bankman-Fried’s legal team requested that the court use their own proposed voir dire. They believe it will provide a fair opportunity to uncover any bias or prejudice among potential jurors.
Upcoming Trial
If found guilty of seven counts of fraud-related offenses, Bankman-Fried could face a potential 100-year jail sentence. The trial will begin with the prosecution’s opening statement on October 4 and is scheduled to span 15 full trial days in October and six in November.
Despite his bail being revoked in August, Bankman-Fried will attend the trial from behind bars. However, Judge Kaplan has allowed him to arrive early at the courthouse on most days to prepare with his legal team before proceedings begin.
Hot Take: SBFβs Legal Counsel Raises Concerns About Governmentβs Proposed Jury Questions
The legal counsel representing Sam Bankman-Fried has voiced concerns about the government’s proposed questions for jury selection in his upcoming trial. Mark Cohen argues that these questions contain bias, potentially leading to an unfair judgment against his client. He asserts that the government’s proposed voir dire fails to achieve its objectives and could prejudice potential jurors. Cohen requests that the court use Bankman-Fried’s proposed voir dire, which he believes will provide a full and fair opportunity to uncover any bias or prejudice. The trial is set to begin on October 4, with Bankman-Fried facing potential fraud-related charges that could result in a lengthy prison sentence.
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