Judge Juan Merchan is currently providing instructions to the jury regarding the timing of the trial proceedings. He has informed the jury that he anticipates the summations to last at least a day and prefers not to break them up if possible. Merchan expressed that due to the complexity of the case, it would not be feasible to proceed with the summations this week in a cohesive manner.
Considering various factors, Judge Merchan has decided that the most appropriate course of action is to adjourn the proceedings and resume with the summations on the following Tuesday. He stated, 'I've considered all the permutations... at the end of the day, I think the best thing that we can do is to adjourn now until next Tuesday. At that time, you will hear summations from the attorneys. Probably Wednesday I’ll ask you to come in... hear jury charge and then I would expect that you will begin your deliberations hopefully at some point on Wednesday.'
Merchan emphasized the importance of following his instructions not to discuss or research the case during this break. He reminded the jury that despite both sides having rested, the upcoming instructions hold significant importance.
Furthermore, Judge Merchan raised the possibility of working late next Tuesday, as he expressed uncertainty about completing both summations by 4:30 p.m. ET. He urged the jury to consider this potential extension of working hours to ensure the smooth progression of the trial proceedings.
