At least 50 potential Trump jurors dismissed en masse after saying they couldn't be fair

More than 50 prospective jurors were dismissed en masse at Donald Trump's hush money trial on Monday.

During the first day of the first criminal trial of a former U.S. president, Justice Juan Merchan asked the first group of 96 potential jurors to raise their hands if they could not be impartial to Trump.

"More than half of prospective jurors in the first panel of 96 people have been excused after saying they could not be fair and impartial," Graham Kates wrote for the press pool. "At least 50 were let go for that reason."

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Eighteen random prospective jurors were then selected to come to the jury box to answer a 42-item questionnaire.

The process, known as voir dire, involves both prosecutors and Trump's defense team questioning jurors to determine their suitability for delivering a fair verdict.

Trump's legal strategy hinges on seating jurors sympathetic to his perspective, ideally, those who view him as a victim of political persecution.

His defense team is likely to focus on jurors who distrust governmental authorities and are skeptical of the prosecution's motives, according to MSNBC's Katie Phang.