Attorneys in the trial of former President Donald Trump's hush money case have chosen 12 New Yorkers to serve as jurors, but the process of selecting up to six alternates is still ongoing. The importance of selecting a jury that will fairly hear the evidence and determine the outcome of this historic case is known to both sides.

According to New York criminal procedure law, alternate jurors would replace any seated juror who is unable to continue during the trial. These alternates must meet the same qualifications and go through the same examination as the other jurors. The judge and lawyers will question and select these alternates after all 12 jurors are seated. Although they will listen to the entire trial, they will not participate in deliberations.

While attending his hush money criminal trial in a Manhattan courtroom, Donald Trump expressed frustration at not being able to campaign as part of his 2024 presidential run. He lamented missing out on events in New Hampshire, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and other locations. Trump claimed that the trial was unfair and held up copies of media stories that he said disputed the legitimacy of the case, though these copies were not immediately made available for viewing by reporters.

Furthermore, Trump complained about the cold temperature in the courtroom, stating that he and others were freezing throughout the day's proceedings.

In regard to the charges, Trump is facing 34 felony counts of falsifying business records related to an alleged hush money scheme before the 2016 election. He has pleaded not guilty to these charges.

The trial is scheduled to resume on Friday at 9:30 a.m. ET. Trump's attorney, Todd Blanche, requested the names of the prosecutors' first few witnesses, but prosecutor Joshua Steinglass declined the request, citing Trump's social media posts about the witnesses. Steinglass expressed concerns about potential witness tampering.

During discussions about the court schedule, Judge Juan Merchan stated his intention to continue proceedings until 2 p.m. ET on Monday and Tuesday to accommodate Passover, a Jewish holiday. Blanche requested that the court does not sit on Tuesday due to the holiday, but the judge emphasized that it is not a court holiday, although he understood the attorney's request.

Judge Merchan also mentioned the possibility of a Sandoval hearing taking place the following day, if time permitted. A Sandoval hearing involves determining whether previous bad acts can be introduced as evidence, with the judge weighing the probative value against any prejudicial effect.

As the trial progresses, the selection of alternate jurors remains crucial to ensuring the proceedings continue smoothly in case any seated jurors are unable to continue. The significance of this trial, involving a former president, continues to draw attention and anticipation.