A jury comprising seven women and five men has been selected for Harvey Weinstein’s high-profile rape retrial in Manhattan. This marks a shift from the five women and seven men who convicted the disgraced Hollywood mogul in his original trial five years ago.

Opening statements in the #MeToo-era retrial are expected to begin Wednesday. Meanwhile, attorneys are working to finalize the selection of six alternate jurors who would step in if any of the main jurors are unable to continue during the proceedings.

The 12 jurors hail from diverse professional backgrounds, including a physics researcher, a photographer, a dietician, a software engineer at an investment bank, and a retired social worker. After selecting nine jurors last week, the court added three more and five alternatives on Monday during a marathon day of questioning.

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Prospective jurors were rigorously vetted, both in private and open court, to assess their impartiality in a case that sparked the global #MeToo movement. Weinstein’s defence attorney, Mike Cibella, asked one potential juror whether hearing graphic sexual allegations would lead her to presume guilt. She replied no — and was selected.

Prosecutor Shannon Lucey questioned candidates about their ability to set aside any bias linked to the #MeToo movement and focus solely on the facts of the case. All indicated they could do so.

Weinstein, 73, is being retried after New York’s highest court overturned his 2020 conviction, citing judicial errors and prejudicial testimony. He has pleaded not guilty to charges of rape and sexual assault, including the alleged 2013 rape of an aspiring actor, a 2006 forced oral sex incident involving a production assistant, and a third assault claim from a new accuser.

Weinstein maintains he never sexually assaulted anyone.

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