Sam Bankman-Fried (SBF), the disgraced co-founder of the now insolvent cryptocurrency exchange FTX, concluded his first day of trial involving jury selection and voir dire questioning. The process extended into Wednesday as U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan eliminated several potential jurors on Tuesday.
Trial of FTX Co-Founder SBF Unveils Juror Crypto Losses on Day One of Voir Dire
A day earlier, on Tuesday, Sam Bankman-Fried (SBF) appeared in the courtroom sporting a considerably shorter haircut and accompanied by his legal counsel. Various media outlets reported on the jury selection and voir dire, including an extensive X thread from Matthew Russell Lee’s Inner City Press publication. Judge Kaplan and the court aim to select a total of 12 jurors and approximately six alternates, hoping to complete the process on Wednesday.
Lee’s coverage of Tuesday’s hearing revealed that several prospective jurors mentioned losing money in cryptocurrencies. One potential juror claimed their company invested in FTX and Alameda Research, experiencing financial losses. Another person stated their fiancé lost money investing in crypto assets, while a third individual worked for Signature Bank, which financed FTX transactions, according to Inner City Press.
FTX founder SBF was present at the hearing, consulting with his attorneys such as Andrew Cohen. Judge Kaplan instructed jurors not to conduct any external research or post about the case online. “It would not surprise me if some of you have heard about this case,” Kaplan remarked. He added that opening statements could commence mid-morning on Monday, October 9, 2023. During the hearing, SBF was observed typing on a court-provided air-gapped laptop.
One possible juror expressed concern that the case involved the death penalty and stated they could not participate if the punishment was so severe. Judge Kaplan reassured the juror that the death penalty would not be applicable in this legal matter. Over 70 prospective jurors were questioned by the judge and attorneys, leaving an estimated 50 candidates remaining to finalize the selection of 12 jurors and six alternates.
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