In a historic moment for the United States, potential jurors have been summoned to participate in the first criminal trial of a former president in the country's history. Over 500 residents of Manhattan have received notices to appear at the borough's criminal court on April 15, where the trial will take place. The selection process aims to choose 12 jurors, along with a few alternates, who can put aside their opinions regarding one of the world's most famous and polarizing figures, former President Donald Trump.

Trump is facing 34 felony counts of falsification of business records in a case stemming from alleged efforts to conceal "hush money" payments made to adult film star Stormy Daniels. He has entered a not guilty plea and accused Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg of using the case for political gain. However, Trump and his legal team will not be allowed to make such claims during the trial. Instead, the judge will require them to focus on presenting evidence regarding the truth or falsity of the allegations, as well as whether Trump violated the law.

According to a court filing made public on Monday, potential jurors will be presented with a comprehensive questionnaire consisting of 42 questions. The queries range from usual and ordinary information, such as occupation and jury service history, to more pointed inquiries. One such question included in the questionnaire asks potential jurors if they have ever attended a rally or campaign event held by any anti-Trump group or organization.

Notably, prosecutors initially proposed additional questions that probed potential jurors' political beliefs, including their views on Trump's false claim of winning the 2020 election. However, Judge Juan Merchan decided to scrap these questions, and they were not included in the questionnaire that was made public on Monday.

During the meticulous and potentially lengthy process of jury selection, Trump's lawyers and prosecutors will conduct personalized questioning for many potential jurors. This step aims to assess their suitability for impartially evaluating the evidence and making fair judgments.

As the trial approaches, all eyes will be on the selection of the jury, as they will play a vital role in determining the outcome of this landmark case. This historic trial marks a significant moment in the U.S. legal system, where the former leader of the nation faces a serious criminal charge, stripped of any political context.