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Jury selection begins in Weinstein retrial amid #MeToo legacy
Five years after Harvey Weinstein was first convicted in New York of rape and sexual assault a verdict that led to a 23-year prison sentence the case is back in court. The original conviction, which had become a defining moment of the #MeToo movement, was recently overturned by New York’s highest court. The Court of Appeals ruled that the 2020 trial was marred by unfair judicial decisions and inadmissible testimony, particularly from women whose allegations were not part of the charges.
As a result, Weinstein faces a new trial, beginning with jury selection this Tuesday. The former film producer, once a dominant force in Hollywood, is now 73 years old and facing numerous health challenges. Despite the change in public atmosphere since the peak of the #MeToo era, the allegations remain serious.
Weinstein is being retried on charges of raping an aspiring actress in a Manhattan hotel in 2013 and forcing oral sex on a film production assistant in 2006. A third count, based on a separate woman's claim of forced oral sex, has been added. This accuser was not part of the first trial and remains unnamed publicly.
The selection process for the jury will involve narrowing down a large pool of potential jurors to 18 - 12 jurors and six alternates. The court will dismiss anyone with conflicts or demonstrated bias. Those who qualify will undergo detailed questioning by both sides, focusing on background, profession, and any personal experiences related to crime or law enforcement.
Regardless of the outcome, Weinstein will remain incarcerated. He is also appealing a 2022 rape conviction in Los Angeles, for which he is currently serving a 16-year sentence. His legal team argues that the now-overturned New York conviction unfairly influenced that sentencing.
This retrial marks a significant chapter in Weinstein’s legal saga and offers a renewed test for the justice system’s handling of high-profile sexual assault cases.