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Document 356

AI Analysis

Summary: The letter, written by defense attorney Bobbi C. Sternheim, argues that the court should grant the defense's request for individual sequestered voir dire and limited counsel-conducted voir dire to ensure a fair and impartial jury in the trial of Ghislaine Maxwell. The defense contends that the government's opposition to this request is standard procedure and that the court has the power to ensure a fair jury selection process. The letter highlights the high-profile nature of the case and the potential for juror bias due to extensive media coverage.
Significance: This document is potentially important as it reveals the defense's argument for a specific jury selection process in a high-profile case, highlighting concerns about juror bias and the need for a fair trial.
Key Topics: Jury selection process Voir dire procedure Fair and impartial jury
Key People:
  • Bobbi C. Sternheim - Defense attorney for Ghislaine Maxwell
  • Alison J. Nathan - United States District Judge
  • Ghislaine Maxwell - Defendant in the case United States v. Ghislaine Maxwell
Document Type
Letter
Date
10/18/21
Pages
1
Folder
IMAGES002

Full Text

Case 1:20-cr-00330-AJN Document 356 Filed 10/18/21 Page 1 of 1 LAW OFFICES OF BOBBI C. STERNHEIM 212-243-1100 * Main 917-912-9698 * Cell 888-587-4737 * Fax 225 Broadway, Suite 715 New York, NY 10007 bcsternheim@mac.com October 18, 2021 Honorable Alison J. Nathan United States District Judge United States Courthouse 40 Foley Square New York, NY 10007 Re: United States v. Ghislaine Maxwell S2 20 Cr. 330 (AJN) Dear Judge Nathan: There is nothing surprising about the government's opposition to limited attorney-conducted voir dire and individual sequestered voir dire. (Dkt. 355.) The government's response is standard SDNY operating procedure: "We don't do that here." Rarely is there an AUSA who has ever conducted voir dire, so it is easy to just say "no." In this case, counsel are better positioned to address particular areas of case-related bias than is the Court, and requesting a mere minute per juror is far from onerous. The proposed questionnaire seeks highly sensitive and personal information regarding each juror. Simply asking jurors to raise their hand in response to an invitation to speak privately on a personal topic is revealing and invasive. One would hope that the government would be sensitive to that fact and would want to ensure that a fair and impartial jury will be seated in this high-profile case. With each passing day, the amount of public exposure this case receives erodes that possibility. Below are today's Google search results: - Ghislaine Maxwell: "about 4,740,000 (about 0.89 seconds)" - Jeffrey Epstein: "about 26,200,000 results (0.86 seconds)" The Court has the power and the obligation to ensure that jury selection eliminates jurors who are biased and/or motivated to serve for reasons beyond being fair and impartial. This is an extraordinary case involving sensitive issues. We urge the Court to exercise its supervisory powers and discretion and grant the defense request for individual sequestered voir dire and very limited counsel-conducted voir dire. Very truly yours, /s/ BOBBI C. STERNHEIM cc: All Counsel DOJ-OGR-00005255