NEW YORK — A juror in Harvey Weinstein’s sex crimes trial asked to be removed from the case Friday because he felt his fellow jurors were treating a member of their panel in an “unfair and unjust” way, but the judge told him he had to keep deliberating.
Judge Curtis Farber later denied a defense request for a mistrial, saying he believed the juror was simply expressing discomfort in the deliberation process, noting that he’s the youngest on the 12-person panel.
“This is nothing other than normal tensions during heated deliberations,” Farber told the lawyers after the juror rejoined his peers. “Perhaps his youth makes him uncomfortable with conflict.”
The second day of deliberations ended Friday without a verdict. Jurors are expected back in court Monday.
Jurors reheard testimony from Weinstein’s three accusers. They also reviewed other evidence, including medical records and emails.
Twice on Friday, though, a juror requested to address the court without the other jurors present.
The juror said he wanted to be excused from the trial because he was uncomfortable with how some jurors were acting toward another juror.
But Farber denied the request, saying there were no more alternate jurors to replace him and, in any case, his concerns did not warrant being dismissed.
The juror insisted, calling the treatment “unfair and unjust” even as he described the tension as “playground stuff” with jurors shunning another juror and talking behind their back.
Weinstein’s lawyer Arthur Aidala argued that the jury should be told to stop deliberating while the court found out more about the concerns.
He criticized the judge’s questions to the concerned juror as “anemic at best.”
“You didn’t ask him one follow-up question,” Aidala said.
Manhattan prosecutor Nicole Blumberg said the judge acted appropriately by reminding jurors about the expectations for them -- including that they not speak to anyone about the case unless all members of the jury are deliberating.
The issue, she noted, does not appear to be hindering the jury’s work, as the panel requested a readout of other testimony even after he raised concerns.
Sexual misconduct allegations against Weinstein propelled the #MeToo movement in 2017.
The jury of seven women and five men is considering two counts of criminal sex act and one count of rape against the 73-year-old Oscar-winning movie producer, with the criminal sex act charges the higher-degree felonies. Weinstein has pleaded not guilty.
Weinstein was convicted of sex crimes in New York and California, but the New York conviction was overturned last year, leading to the retrial before a new jury and a different judge.
Jurors heard more than five weeks of testimony, including lengthy testimony from three accusers.
Article by Philip Marcelo.
Resources for sexual assault survivors in Canada
If you or someone you know is struggling with sexual assault or trauma, the following resources are available to support people in crisis:
- Call 911 if you are in immediate danger or fear for your safety.
- The Canadian Association of Sexual Assault Centres' website has a comprehensive list of sexual assault centres in Canada that offer information, advocacy and counselling.
- The Ending Violence Association of Canada‘s website has links to helplines, support services and locations across Canada that offer sexual assault kits.
- Indian Residential School Survivors Society crisis lines: +1 866 925 4419 or +1 800 721 0066 (24/7)
- Toronto Rape Crisis Centre crisis line: +1 416 597 8808 (24/7)
- Canadian Human Trafficking Hotline: +1 833 900 1010 (24/7)
- Trans Lifeline: +1 877 330 6366
- Suicide Crisis Helpline: call or text 988 (24/7)
- Sexual Misconduct Support and Resource Centre for current and former Canadian Armed Forces members: +1 844 750 1648
- Read about your rights as a victim on the Canadian Resource Centre for Victims of Crime website.
