On Tuesday, An appeals court denied the second request from Harvey Weinstein’s legal team to move his trial out of New York City. Weinstein’s attorneys asked the Appellate Division last week to move the trial to Albany or Suffolk County, arguing it is impossible for him to get a fair trial due to the “carnival-like atmosphere” at the Manhattan courthouse.
The D.A.’s office argued that the request was a transparent effort to delay the trial. A 12-person jury, with three alternates, was chosen on Friday, and opening statements are set for Wednesday.
Prosecutors also argued that there is
no escaping the media circus, as the outlets covering the trial will simply follow wherever it goes. The D.A.’s office also argued that New Yorkers are more habituated to chaotic environments than are the residents of Albany or Suffolk County.
“The inhabitants of those jurisdictions have access to the same news sources and social media and, with a less diverse and populous source of jurors, are likely to be more impacted by protests or demonstrators than their counterparts in Manhattan,”
