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Harvey Weinstein Granted Hospital Transfer Amid Retrial Proceedings
In a recent legal development in Manhattan, Harvey Weinstein, the embattled former film producer, secured a victory as a judge approved his request to be moved from Rikers Island jail to Bellevue Hospital. This decision comes amidst his ongoing rape and sexual assault retrial, with his legal team citing concerns over his deteriorating health while incarcerated at the correctional facility.
Judge Orders Transfer Citing Medical Concerns
Judge Paul Goetz of the State Supreme Court ruled on Thursday that Weinstein would be permitted to relocate to Bellevue Hospital, situated in Kips Bay, for the duration of his trial. The judge emphasized that denying the transfer could worsen Weinstein’s existing health issues, potentially leading to severe medical complications, even “possibly death.”
The Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office has not yet issued a public statement regarding the court’s decision.
Jury Selection Continues, Faces Delays
Meanwhile, the selection of jurors for Weinstein’s rape retrial continued on Thursday, with a further pool of potential candidates undergoing screening. However, despite efforts to finalize the jury panel this week, several positions remain unfilled. The jury selection process is now adjourned for Good Friday and will recommence on Monday.
The jury panel began to take shape on Wednesday with the selection of nine jurors—five women and four men—to preside over the retrial, a significant case of the #MeToo era. On Thursday, over 140 additional prospective jurors were brought into the court to engage in the multi-stage selection process.
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High Number of Excused Jurors
Mirroring earlier stages of jury selection, approximately two-thirds of the prospective jurors were excused after indicating scheduling conflicts or expressing concerns about their capacity to remain unbiased and impartial given the widespread media coverage and sensitive nature of the sexual assault allegations against Weinstein.
One potential juror, who initially did not raise concerns, later informed the judge—privately, away from other prospective jurors—that she doubted her ability to disregard her prior knowledge of the case. Judge Curtis Farber subsequently excused her.
Ultimately, around 50 individuals advanced to the subsequent phase of questioning on Thursday afternoon.
Further Questioning and Weekend Recess
The court session concluded before detailed questioning could be conducted regarding the prospective jurors’ professions, personal histories, perspectives on the #MeToo movement, and related matters. Jury selection is paused for the Good Friday holiday and will resume on Monday. Notably, one woman disclosed to Judge Farber that she works in the news industry, but affirmed her commitment to avoid media coverage of the trial if selected. She is expected to undergo further questioning to determine her suitability to serve on the jury.
Weinstein Faces Rape and Sexual Assault Charges
Weinstein, celebrated in the past as an Oscar-winning producer and a prominent figure in Hollywood, is currently facing charges of raping two women—an aspiring actress and a production assistant—in separate incidents. He is also accused of coercing another woman into performing oral sex.
The 73-year-old Weinstein has entered a plea of not guilty to all charges, maintaining that all sexual encounters were consensual.
Background: #MeToo Movement and Prior Convictions
Public accusations against Weinstein emerged in 2017, becoming a catalyst for the #MeToo movement, which addresses sexual misconduct, and leading to multiple legal proceedings. Weinstein was initially convicted of rape in his first New York trial in 2020. Subsequently, in 2022, he was found guilty in Los Angeles on a separate rape charge, which he also denies.
However, in the past year, New York’s highest court overturned his 2020 conviction and the associated 23-year prison sentence. This reversal led to the current retrial in Manhattan, where the specific charges and anticipated evidence differ somewhat from the initial case.
Ongoing Jury Selection Process
The legal teams representing both the prosecution and the defense are tasked with selecting 12 jurors and six alternates for the retrial.
Judge Farber is presiding over the meticulous jury selection process. The nine jurors chosen so far were drawn from an initial pool of approximately 140 individuals who underwent preliminary screening earlier this week.
Prospective jurors may be excused for a range of reasons, including language barriers, prior personal experiences, or biases concerning the individuals or issues involved in the case. Both prosecution and defense attorneys are also granted a limited number of peremptory challenges, allowing them to dismiss potential jurors without needing to provide a specific justification.
Opening statements in the Harvey Weinstein rape and sexual assault retrial are tentatively scheduled to commence on Tuesday.