Former President Donald Trump faced criticism for not standing when potential jurors were introduced during his ongoing criminal trial in Manhattan. Legal analysts and former federal prosecutors expressed their concerns over Trump's move, deeming it as "unwise" and disrespectful towards the jury.

Renato Mariotti, a legal analyst and former federal prosecutor, highlighted the significance of a defendant standing and facing the jury, emphasizing that a competent lawyer would advise their client to be mindful of their actions in front of the jury. Mariotti called Trump's action a display of disrespect towards the jury.

The incident was reported by a pool reporter present at the trial, who noted on social media that Trump did not stand while his legal team did. Newsweek's Katherine Fung, who was in the courtroom, confirmed the incident. Newsweek reached out to Trump's spokesperson for comment, but there was no response.

Thursday's proceedings primarily focused on the jury selection process. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg brought forth the criminal case against Trump, accusing him of falsifying New York business records to conceal information during the 2016 presidential election. Trump continues to deny any wrongdoing in the case. He had previously been placed under a gag order by New York State Supreme Court Justice Juan Merchan.

During the jury selection, two jurors were dismissed. One juror, identified as Juror No. 2, expressed concerns about her ability to remain fair and impartial, citing external influences questioning her identity as a juror. The juror was excused from the case, with Justice Merchan expressing disappointment over losing a potentially good juror.

Another juror, Juror No. 4, was also dismissed after prosecutors flagged information that brought into question the veracity of his answers. The juror voiced annoyance at the public disclosure of information. The jury selection process is set to continue on Thursday and possibly extend into Friday.

Former federal prosecutor Ron Filipkowski chimed in on Trump's refusal to stand, sharing his experience of never having a client fail to stand for jurors. He emphasized that even defendants charged with murder had always stood before the jury.

The trial, scheduled for April 23, will also address a potential violation of the gag order by Trump. The prosecution filed a motion seeking to sanction Trump for social media posts they argue infringe upon the order. They requested a fine of $1,000 for each of the three potential violations.

As the trial progresses, legal experts and analysts will closely watch the jury selection and subsequent proceedings, highlighting the potential impact of Trump's actions on the outcome of the case.