Los Angeles, CA – Prosecutors pushed back Friday on Tom Girardi’s request to ask prospective jurors in his California federal fraud trial if they have seen his wife’s television show or reports about his law firm’s scandal, arguing that Girardi’s fame is not comparable to that of convicted attorney Michael Avenatti, whose case included a written juror questionnaire.
Federal prosecutors acknowledged that written juror questionnaires have been used in the past, including for Avenatti, who like Girardi was accused of stealing client funds. However, they asserted in their motion that such a questionnaire is unnecessary for Girardi’s upcoming trial.
Avenatti was convicted in California federal court of stealing from clients and was also convicted in separate cases of extortion and stealing from his former client, Stormy Daniels. Girardi pointed to Avenatti’s questionnaire in his recent motion, but prosecutors argued that while both face similar claims of theft from clients, Girardi lacks Avenatti’s level of fame.
