There was more questioning today in a Manhattan federal courthouse of prospective jurors in the insider trading-related case of Westport’s Martha Stewart.
The questioning began today with 40 potential jurors qualified for the next round, according to transcripts of questioning from earlier this week. Sources have said the judge wants a pool of about 50.
Stewart was back in court for the fourth straight day watching juror questioning in the private robing room of U.S. District Judge Miriam Goldman Cedarbaum.
In 12-degree cold, Stewart arrived at the courthouse wearing an overcoat and cream-colored scarf, along with black ankle boots. She briefly glanced to her right, at a man who was shouting encouragement to her.
Leaving court in the evening, she briefly raised her eyebrows at reporters but did not answer questions. “Good night,” she said.
Lawyers will decide – probably on Monday – which jurors to excuse, and a final jury of 12 will be seated. Opening arguments are expected Tuesday.
One man was excused by the judge Thursday after he sheepishly admitted that he jokingly refers to Stewart as “the devil” when his wife watches her syndicated TV show on Sunday mornings.
“I don’t personally have any issues with Martha Stewart,” the man said, according to a transcript. “I mean, I know very little about Martha Stewart. It is just that it is a household show. I don’t really care for it much myself.”
How many black jurors on the Martha Stewart jury?