How they’ll decide: Read the jury instructions for the historic Trump hush-money trial

Falsifying business records in the first degree

The jury charge

New York Supreme Court Justice Juan Merchan spent more than an hour Wednesday morning speaking to jurors, slowly describing to them the laws that will underpin their verdict.

Read the judge’s “jury charge” here.

During the charge, Merchan warned jurors to be on guard against any “implicit bias” about groups of people and the defendant himself.

They were also reminded that prosecutors bear the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, and that they must consider only testimony, exhibits, and attorney stipulations in reaching a verdict — not the potential for punishment.

“The defendant is not required to prove that he is not guilty,” he reminded jurors. “The defendant is not required to prove or disprove anything.”

Finally, the jurors were instructed on the underlying laws, and their definitions.

Key among these laws is section 17-152 of the New York election law. Business Insider described this important but rarely-used state election-conspiracy law last month.

To convict, jurors must find that Trump falsified business records to conceal an attempt to violate 17-152.

And to find that Trump attempted to violate 17-152, jurors must find he attempted to commit any of three additional underlying offenses. These are the federal election campaign-finance law, an additional New York business-falsification law, and a violation of tax laws on either a city, state or federal level.

The judge told jurors that they could not take a written copy of the charge with them to the deliberations room.

“You may however request I read them back to you in whole, or in part, as many times as you wish,” he told them. “And I will be happy to do so.”

The defense lawyers, prosecutors, and Trump himself were instructed not to leave the courthouse during deliberations.

Trump sat still during the judge’s instructions, leaning back in his chair and closing his eyes, leaving his hands in his lap. On at least one occasion, he appeared to stretch in his seat.

Once Merchan sent the jurors to the deliberation room, Trump appeared relaxed — even jovial — joking with his son, Donald Trump, Jr., as he left the courtroom to await his verdict.

Once in the hallway, he huddled with his aides outside the courtroom for three minutes before walking up to the cameras and complaining about the judge.