Day 2 of Trump New York hush money trial

Another panel of 96 individuals were brought in to be sworn as potential jurors.

Some looked around curiously – perhaps nervous, perhaps excited — as they passed the half-dozen journalists and a sketch artist in the back row, according to to pool reports

"Ma'am, ma'am put your cell phone away," a court security officer told one potential juror after she saw Donald Trump and tried to pull out her phone.

Some looked nervous. One man and woman were whispering feverishly to one another. Heads craned to try and look at Trump, according to pool reports.

The potential jurors were sworn in, vowing to truthfully answer all questions. Then were dismissed for the day.

The rest of the afternoon will pivot to questioning of six potential jurors from the first panel.

Judge Juan Merchan said the court will move to voir dire for the remaining six jurors from the first panel who have not yet been questioned.

Because it's a group of six instead of 18, he asked the defense and prosecution teams to take only 15 minutes, instead of the 20 minutes he initially agreed they could have.

Judge Juan Merchan is now addressing the next pool of jurors who have been sworn in.

Merchan said he plans to excuse them shortly and they will come back at 9:30 a.m. ET Thursday.

Before Donald Trump’s hush money criminal trial began, experts had deemed that selecting a jury would be a long and challenging task. But six jurors have already been seated before the end of Day 2. 

Six more jurors, as well as alternates, are required for jury selection to conclude. 

Remember: For months now, Trump’s team has pushed to delay the New York trial, as part of the former president’s broader strategy of trying to push back all four of his trials until after the 2024 election.

To recap where we are now:

A second panel of jurors has arrived in the courtroom.

Judge Juan Merchan asked Donald Trump's team to confirm that the media they have been accessing is "all public media."

"Very much confirm," attorney Todd Blanche said.

Judge Juan Merchan said they will swear in the second panel of potential jurors and then excuse them for the day.

Then, he will bring the six jurors from the first panel who have not yet gone through the questionnaire back in to have them answer questions.

He said he expects court will go past 4:30 p.m. ET today.

Judge Juan Merchan gave the jurors instructions, from logistics like arriving before 9 a.m. ET to give them time to clear the mags for court, to serious matters like not accepting bribes and reporting any attempts to influence them.

He told them to avoid reading the news or researching the case.

"In addition, not conversing face-to-face with anyone about the case," Merchan said, adding that jurors cannot communicate electronically with anyone.

Of the six jurors still in the audience, Merchan said, "We're not done with you."