A trial against Trump co-defendants Kenneth Chesebro and Sidney Powell, both lawyers, will be held next month in Fulton County Superior Court. Judge Scott McAfee has directed 900 potential jurors to appear, a high number reflecting the significance of the case.
McAfee’s ruling on Thursday specified that former President Donald Trump and 16 others accused of trying to alter the outcome of the 2020 presidential election will be tried separately from Chesebro and Powell. The latter invoked their right to a speedy trial. McAfee aims to have a jury selected and sworn by November 3, 2023, for the trial of Chesebro and Powell.
In preparation for the trial, McAfee has ordered subpoenas for 450 potential jurors to appear on October 20 and another 450 to appear on October 27. The trial for Chesebro and Powell is scheduled to start on October 23.
Jessica Levinson, a legal contributor for CBS News, acknowledges that 900 potential jurors may seem like a high number. However, she emphasizes that this is understandable given the involvement of the former president. Levinson believes that strong opinions about the defendants will be widespread.
Each juror will be required to complete a questionnaire, although the proposed questions from the attorneys have not yet been submitted.
Chesebro and Powell, in asserting their right to a speedy trial, requested to have their cases separated from the other defendants as well as from each other. McAfee granted their request to sever from the other defendants but not from each other. Both Chesebro and Powell have entered not guilty pleas.
Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis initially wanted all 19 defendants to be tried together, but McAfee argued that it would be logistically impossible. Chesebro is faced with seven counts related to an alleged effort to submit a false slate of electors from Georgia for Trump’s election, while Powell is accused of collaborating with a data company to access election data. All defendants in Georgia are also charged with RICO violations.
— Jared Eggleston and Melissa Quinn contributed to this report
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