A class action lawsuit alleging securities fraud against Elon Musk proceeded to jury selection in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.
The case involves investors in Twitter (now X) who claim Musk violated federal securities laws by manipulating the company's share price through public indecision regarding his intent to purchase the company, before completing the acquisition in October 2022.
Jury Selection Process
Judge Charles R. Breyer noted that Musk's public profile presents challenges in finding impartial jurors, comparing it to that of a U.S. President. The selection process took over five hours. Out of a pool of 93 prospective jurors, 40 were dismissed after indicating they could not set aside their biases.
Juror questionnaires revealed negative opinions regarding Musk, his companies, or his political activities. Specific dismissals included:
- One prospective juror who stated a "moral obligation" to convict Musk and send him to prison if it were a criminal trial.
- A man who expressed disagreement "with the existence of billionaires" in his questionnaire.
- A woman who cited her dislike for how Musk handled mass layoffs of Twitter's content moderators.
Musk's attorney, Stephen Broome, commented on the number of individuals expressing strong negative sentiments towards his client, stating that such declarations of "hate" would normally result in immediate dismissal.
Objections and Judge's Ruling
During the selection process, Musk's legal team objected to several potential jurors who expressed dislike for Musk, seeking their removal for cause. Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers overruled these objections, stating that dislike of Musk does not disqualify a juror if they can remain impartial.
The nine selected jurors included some who acknowledged negative opinions of Musk or AI technology but affirmed they could decide the case based on the facts.
Trial Schedule
The trial is anticipated to last approximately three weeks. Potential witnesses include Elon Musk and former Twitter CEO Parag Agrawal. The trial is scheduled to commence on March 2.