After observing Donald Trump's speech and non-verbal cues during the examination of a prospective juror on Tuesday, the presiding judge in his criminal trial in New York kindly advised him to refrain from potentially influencing the jurors.
According to court reporters, the former president also seemed to nod off during the proceedings.
Judge Juan Merchan chastised the Republican presidential candidate after he overheard Mr. Trump make comments during his attorneys' interrogation of a potential juror.
Eventually, seven out of the twelve jurors were empaneled.
During the second day of the trial, Mr. Trump faced allegations concerning 34 felonies. These charges encompassed accusations of forging business documents aimed at concealing a hush money payment scheme.
During the 2016 presidential campaign, he faced allegations of engaging in remunerative practices to prevent potential issues. Among these transactions, a payment of $130,000 was made to adult film actress Stormy Daniels, who alleged a prior involvement with Mr. Trump.
He has denied the affair and entered a not-guilty plea.
There has never been a trial for a former US president in the past. As per New York state law, it is mandatory for the defendant to be present throughout the entire court proceedings.
During the November election, President Joe Biden stood as the Democratic opponent, upholding a firm stance in opposition to the judge commonly associated with disdain for former President Trump.
Due to the trial, Mr. Trump will be spending the majority of the upcoming weeks in court rather than on the campaign road.
According to a report in the New York Times on Monday, Mr. Trump was observed "appearing to momentarily doze off," as described by witnesses who noted his head drooping onto his chest. On Tuesday, a journalist from Law360 reported witnessing a similar incident, with Mr. Trump nodding off once again.
Mr. Trump has called Joe Biden "Sleepy Joe" on numerous occasions.
Mr. Trump has a history of pushing judges to their limits, and Mr. Merchan has partially ordered a gag order that restricts his ability to speak about witnesses, court employees, and relatives involved in the New York case.
Following an initial screening stage in which over half of the original 96 jurors withdrew due to concerns about their ability to be unbiased, defense attorneys and prosecutors started interviewing potential panel members to make up to 12.
Manhattan is a mostly Democratic borough of New York City, so choosing jurors there could be difficult.
Potential jurors were questioned by defense attorneys over their prior social media posts.
Among the selected jurors are a corporate lawyer who professes to not closely monitor current events, an oncology nurse who finds solace in walking her dog in the park, and an Irishman with a penchant for engaging in various outdoor activities.
The initial six jurors selected were duly informed by Mr. Merchan that their presence in court would not be necessary until the following Monday. This would be the anticipated starting point for opening statements.