Judge Merchan is moving this case along - the primary thing judges are supposed to do above all else - move the case along. He's decided all pretrial motions quickly, and is moving through difficult jury selection with amazing speed. Contrast Judge Cannon, who is seemingly incapable of deciding pretrial motions, but rather hands out weird, suggestive and ungraded homework assignments instead, while refusing to even enter a trial schedule on a case filed 11 months ago. Awful judge.
Trump's new lawyer Susan Necheles seems quite different than the usual idiots he hires. At least I think she's new. I haven't heard the name before. Quite an accomplished lawyer. Trump is lucky to have her instead of nutjob Habib Habbo on this one.
I still see opening statements happening on Monday, despite the two seated jurors being excused today. It was the prosecution, by the way, that discovered the one juror had not been honest about his prior conviction for, of all things, tearing down right wing political flyers.
Two lawyers on the jury so far. Talking heads seem to say that trends Trump. I think it just means the jury will be more focused on details and jury legal instructions. How does that help Trump? I'm seriously wondering why anyone would think it does. What am I missing?