It's time for Justice Matters with former federal prosecutor and MS NBC analyst Glenn Kirchner. The judge in Donald Trump's first criminal trial has issued an order to protect the jurors.

Here's Glenn with details.

So friends, Donald Trump's first criminal trial, his first prosecution,

is scheduled to kick off on March 25th. And the presiding judge in the case, New York State

Court Judge Juan Mershahn just ordered that the jurors will be anonymous and that Donald Trump and his lawyers may not disclose their

identities to anyone.

Let's start with the new reporting. This from NBC News headline judge restricts

access to jurors identities in Trump hush money trial. And that article begins, the New York judge presiding over former

President Donald Trump's hush money case ruled Thursday that he'll use an anonymous

jury when the case goes to trial this month.

While Trump and attorneys in the case will know the identities of the jurors,

their names will be shielded from the press and the public, Judge Warren. the a likelihood of bribery, jury tampering, or of physical injury or harassment to the jurors.

The judge said his order applies only to jurors identities and addresses and had been

requested by prosecutors from the Manhattan District Attorney's Office and

consented to by Trump's attorneys.

And this quote from Judge Mershahn, quote, to be clear, the parties have not requested and

this court has not agreed to close the courtroom during jury selection or at any other time during the proceedings.

Access to the courtroom by the public and the press will not be tempered in any way as a result of these protective measures,

Mershahn said.

He, the judge, also granted a request by Trump's attorneys to minimize potential

prejudice to their client by not notifying the jurors of the protective

measures and giving neutral explanations if they, the jurors, ask about

...