Alison J. Nathan

Presided over the jury trial, issued evidentiary and procedural rulings, instructed jurors, and managed the transition from testimony through closings and deliberations.

During the presentation of evidence, she set procedures for juror access to exhibits, required advance handling of likely admissibility disputes, and ruled on objections involving foundation, hearsay, prior statements, and sealed materials. She ruled that most proposed defense testimony from three attorneys would be excluded, while permitting a limited question to one attorney concerning a possible impeachment inference.

Before deliberations, she addressed redactions for closing visuals, set the sequence and time limits for summations, and delivered the final charge on the counts, the parties' burdens, evidence, credibility, and unanimous deliberations. She also resolved defense objections to aspects of the government's closing argument, denying a mistrial request concerning Exhibit 52.

When jurors sent questions during deliberations, she directed them to the existing charge for the definition of enticement and to the full instruction governing Count Four rather than adopting the defense's requested supplemental instruction. She set daily deliberation schedules, allowed jurors to report substantial hardship, and explained the court's COVID-19 concerns about possible disruption.