By Luc Cohen

NEW YORK (Reuters), Despite the fact that Jeffrey Epstein died in a Manhattan prison cell two years ago now, experts believe it will be difficult for unbiased jurors to decide whether Ghislaine Maxill’s upcoming sex-abuse trial against the financier.

On Thursday, prospective jurors will be asked to fill out a 24 page questionnaire at the federal court in Manhattan. This is to determine whether or not they are competent to judge Maxwell. Maxwell, who U.S.prosecutors claim groomed and recruited underage girls to Epstein’s abuse.

Epstein was a wealthy money manager with connections who had once been associated with Prince Andrew of Britain and Leon Black, the billionaire. He committed suicide after being arrested on charges related to sex trafficking.

Maxwell’s attorneys have stated that Maxwell’s trial has been marred by “intensely negative media coverage” including documentaries and podcasts on Netflix (NASDAQ.) among others. The trial is scheduled to begin on November 29.

Roy Futterman from the trial consulting firm DOAR, New York, stated that Epstein will be a major figure in the trial and that there are many preconceived ideas about Epstein. It’s difficult for defense lawyers to find people who can be a blank slate.”

Prosecutors claim that Maxwell (59) recruited and trained four girls under the age of 16 for Epstein’s abuse between 1994-2004.

Maxwell, who pleaded not guilty, was the first woman in high-profile to face sexual abuse allegations since the beginning of the #MeToo campaign.

Maxwell has been the subject of “vitriolic coverage” by Maxwell lawyers since her July 2020 arrest.

In a court filing, they stated that the fact that a woman is being held responsible for accusations almost entirely against men “increases interest and intrigue in this case”.

A questionnaire will be completed by 600 potential jurors. It asks about what they’ve read and heard about Epstein or Maxwell and their personal experiences with assault or sexual abuse.

Starting Nov. 16, some individuals will be called to answer individual questions by Alison Nathan (U.S. District Court Judge), who preside over the trial.

According to jury consultants, this should help prospective jurors feel more at ease discussing personal issues and allow lawyers to eliminate people with preconceived notions regarding Maxwell’s guilt. After the entire process has been completed, there will then be 12 jurors plus six alternates.

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Many potential jurors will have some familiarity with the case. However, people who learn about it via news sources instead of entertainment might be less biased. Christina Marinakis, Litigation Insights’ director of jury research in Baltimore, stated that they are more likely to be able to identify those individuals.

Questionnaire asks potential jurors to share their opinions on the case through social media. Marinakis stated that both the defense and the prosecution will review the posts online to make sure.

The defense faces a challenge because jurors who are familiar with Epstein might consider Maxwell to be a more serious witness because Maxwell was a woman. Also, many Epstein victims were young women, Melissa Gomez from MMG Jury Consulting, Philadelphia. A negative opinion of Epstein might lead jurors to believe Maxwell had an obligation to protect his daughters.

It’s not going to just be about whether she participated actively, it will also include her failure to protect other women as a woman. Gomez said.

Paul Applebaum (a St. Paul defense attorney) said the defense could seek to place men who see Maxwell’s accusers more as participants than victims in Epstein’s sexual activity.

He stated, “You want men on your jury who are still cavaliers,”