Third part "We don't suggest you need to have been living under a rock for the last eight years, or the last 30 years," he said. "We don't expect you not to have heard about this, or not to have discussed this case with friends. What we do need is for you to keep an open mind." Dozens of potential jurors took those instructions seriously and admitted they could not be impartial. One man was excused from service after telling the judge that it was "going to be hard for me to be impartial," since many of his family members and friends were Republicans. Justice Juan Merchan, the judge overseeing the trial, excused him, as other potential jurors stepped up. So far, seven jurors have been seated. At least two potential jurors were dismissed by the judge because of social media posts. If anything, Justice Merchan has exhibited an extra degree of tolerance for Mr. Trump's strategy of systematically attacking the legitimacy of the courts and court officials through repeated verbal outbursts and countless legal motions and other attempts to delay his trials. In the New York case, Mr. Trump received a short extension last month when federal prosecutors found a tranche of documents that had not been turned over to the defense team. In the week before the start of the trial, he filed three emergency appeals in three days, as The Times reported, including a civil action against the judge, which were quickly rejected by an appeals court