As the country waited for the verdict in former President Donald Trump’s criminal case in Manhattan a few weeks ago, pundits and citizens alike were busy speculating about the outcome. And late in the first day of deliberations, they got a glimmer of information: the jury had sent a note out to Justice Juan Merchan with some requests.

Jason P.W. Halperin, partner at Mintz. Courtesy Photo

Among requests for pieces of testimony to be read back, the jury also asked to re-hear certain parts of the jury instructions. Because the Court and the attorneys were not immediately clear which instructions the jury wanted read back, Justice Merchan decided to dismiss the jury for the day and ask them the next day to clarify which instructions they wanted to re-hear.

Erin Galliher, senior associate at Mintz. Courtesy Photo