Crypto Tycoon SBF in the Dock: Jury Selection Extended; Hearing Reveals Financial Carnage
A day earlier, on Tuesday,
Sam Bankman-Fried (SBF) appeared in the courtroom sporting a considerably shorter haircut and accompanied by his legal counsel.
Various media outlets reported on the jury selection and voir dire, including an extensive X thread from Matthew Russell Lee’s Inner City Press publication. Judge Kaplan and the court aim to select a total of
12 jurors and approximately six alternates, hoping to complete the process on
Wednesday.
Lee’s coverage of Tuesday’s hearing revealed that several prospective jurors mentioned
losing money in cryptocurrencies. One potential juror claimed
their company invested in FTX and Alameda Research, experiencing financial losses. Another person stated their fiancé lost money investing in crypto assets, while a third individual worked for Signature Bank, which financed FTX transactions, according to Inner City Press.
One possible juror expressed concern that the case involved the death penalty and stated they could not participate if the punishment was so severe. Judge Kaplan reassured the juror
that the death penalty would not be applicable in this legal matter. Over 70 prospective jurors were questioned by the judge and attorneys, leaving an estimated 50 candidates remaining to finalize the selection of 12 jurors and six alternates.
