Jury selection began Monday in the trial of former film producer Harvey Weinstein, who was extradited from New York to Los Angeles in connection with sex-related counts involving five women.
Weinstein — who produced such films as “Shakespeare in Love,” which in 1999 received the best picture Oscar, and “Pulp Fiction” — was initially charged in January 2020 by Los Angeles County prosecutors with forcible rape, forcible oral copulation and sexual penetration by use of force involving one woman on Feb. 18, 2013, and sexual battery by restraint involving another woman a day later.
Weinstein was subsequently charged in April 2020 with sexual battery by restraint involving another woman. In November 2020, prosecutors added six more counts — three counts each of forcible rape and forcible oral copulation — involving two alleged victims in Beverly Hills between 2004 and 2010.
The grand jury subsequently indicted Weinstein on the same charges.
Weinstein, now 70, was extradited from New York, where he was convicted of raping an aspiring actress and a criminal sex act against a former production assistant. The state’s highest court has since agreed to hear his appeal involving that case.
Superior Court Judge Lisa Lench — who described the charges as “essentially sexually assaults or assaults of a sexual nature” — told jurors that the trial in a downtown Los Angeles courtroom is expected to last about two months, including the jury selection process.
“I don’t know what you people know about what you think this case is about,” the judge said. “Whatever you have been exposed to you have been exposed to, and we will seek to find that out through the jury questioning process.”
Citing anonymous sources, the Los Angeles Times reported that California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s wife, Jennifer Siebel Newsom, is among the alleged victims set to testify during Weinstein’s trial. She was referred to in court documents as “Jane Doe 4,” the newspaper reported.
“Like many other women, my client was sexually assaulted by Harvey Weinstein at a purported business meeting that turned out to be a trap. She intends to testify at his trial in order to seek some measure of justice for survivors, and as part of her life’s work to improve the lives of women,” her attorney, Elizabeth Fegan, told the Times. “Please respect her choice to not further discuss this matter outside of the courtroom.”
Weinstein, who remains behind bars, was brought into court in a wheelchair before potential jurors came into the courtroom. He waved at jurors when his attorney, Mark Werksman, introduced him in court.
“… As Mr. Weinstein sits before you, he is innocent,” the judge said in explaining the burden of proof in a criminal case. “If someone were to ask you for your vote right now, you would have to vote not guilty.”
The judge told the potential jurors that she expects the case “to get a fair amount of media attention” and warned them that they are “going to have to be vigilant” in not exposing themselves to any news reports, internet activity or any other information about the case. She also admonished them not to say or post or share anything about jury service.
“I know that may be a difficult task for some of you who announce every one of your moves on social media,” the judge said, prompting laughter from the pool of prospective jurors.
Fifty-six prospective jurors were asked to fill out jury questionnaires, with another 75 potential panelists expected to be brought into court Tuesday and an additional 75 Wednesday.