In a latest authorized doc filed, attorneys for the previous CEO of cryptocurrency alternate FTX, Samuel Bankman-Fried, have raised objections relating to the proposed jury questions for the upcoming fraud trial. The doc asserts that the federal government’s proposed jury questions may elicit biased responses in opposition to Bankman-Fried, which could result in an unfair trial.
Mark S. Cohen and Christian R. Everdell, representing Bankman-Fried, submitted a letter on September 29, 2023, to the Honorable Lewis A. Kaplan of the US District Court docket, Southern District of New York, expressing considerations over the federal government’s proposed voir dire (jury questioning course of). They argue that the proposed questions discourage full disclosure from potential jurors and fail to supply adequate data for the protection to evaluate potential juror bias. The protection additional maintains that the phrasing utilized in some questions already suggests a biased picture, assuming Bankman-Fried’s guilt in fraud and cash laundering fees.
In particular phrases, Cohen and Everdell level out that paragraph 3 of the federal government’s abstract of fees and Query 33 improperly phrase “his fraud” as a substitute of “his alleged fraud” or just “fraud,” which they argue means that Bankman-Fried’s involvement in fraud is a longtime truth, undermining the presumption of innocence.
The protection crew suggests utilizing a voir dire proposed by Bankman-Fried, which they consider will present a good alternative to show any bias or prejudice on the a part of potential jurors. This, they argue, will allow each events to intelligently train challenges for trigger and peremptory challenges throughout the jury choice course of.
Then again, the US authorities opposes Bankman-Fried’s proposed questions, deeming them pointless and time-consuming. They significantly criticize questions regarding pretrial publicity, the philosophical motion of efficient altruism, political donations and lobbying, and attention-deficit/hyperactivity dysfunction (ADHD).
The trial is ready to begin on October 4, 2023, with the jury choice course of starting on October 3. In keeping with the trial calendar, there will probably be a complete of 15 full trial days in October, adopted by six extra in November. In the meantime, Bankman-Fried has been detained on the Metropolitan Detention Middle since August 11.
Because the fraud trial approaches, the protection and prosecution are locking horns over the jury choice course of. The end result of those pretrial discussions may considerably influence the proceedings and finally the decision within the case in opposition to the previous FTX CEO.
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