Harvey Weinstein Retrial Begins with Majority-Female Jury in #MeToo Showdown

The curtain rises once again on Harvey Weinstein’s legal drama as opening statements kick off his rape retrial in New York—this time with a majority-female jury ready to decide one of the most high-profile cases of the #MeToo era.

After a marathon jury selection process, the final panel stands at seven women and five men, with another six alternates waiting in the wings. This is a notable shift from the first trial’s gender split, and everyone’s wondering if it’ll nudge the story in a new direction. Last time around, Weinstein was convicted by a jury with five women and seven men—a verdict that sent shockwaves through Hollywood and beyond as the #MeToo movement gained momentum.

But in a twist worthy of a screenplay, New York’s highest court threw out Weinstein’s 2020 conviction and 23-year sentence, citing the original judge’s decision to allow certain testimony that prejudiced the jury. That judge, by the way, has since left the bench.

Weinstein, now 73, maintains his innocence and has pleaded not guilty, denying all allegations of rape and sexual assault. His defense team has even argued that the physical and emotional toll of another trial could be life-threatening for him, requesting a hospital stay.

The new jury is a microcosm of New York itself, with members ranging from a physics researcher and a photographer to a dietitian, therapist, software engineer, and fire safety director. There’s real estate, TV commercials, debt collection, and social work experience in the mix. Education backgrounds are all over the map, from high school equivalency to master’s degrees, and juror experience runs from total newbies to seasoned panelists.

The process of narrowing down the jury was intense. Hundreds of potential jurors were dismissed for everything from language barriers to unfiltered opinions—one man didn’t hesitate to blurt out that the first word that came to his mind about Weinstein was "pig." That honesty didn’t get him very far in the process.

Jurors faced questions about their ability to stay impartial, even as the case promises to get graphic and headline-grabbing. Defense attorney Mike Cibella probed whether hearing explicit testimony would automatically sway opinions against Weinstein. At least one chosen juror said she could keep an open mind.

Prosecutor Shannon Lucey was equally persistent, asking if jurors could set aside their views on the #MeToo movement and focus on the evidence at hand. Every potential juror in the final group insisted they could.

The retrial hinges on accusations from three women: an aspiring actor who alleges Weinstein raped her in 2013, and two others who say he forced them into oral sex in 2006. One of these women is new to the case, not having participated in the original trial.

Meanwhile, Weinstein isn’t just fighting battles in New York—he’s also appealing a separate 2022 rape conviction out in Los Angeles. It seems his days in court are far from over, and the world is watching to see what this latest jury will decide.