The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star Erika Jayne is a polarizing figure in reality TV. Many fans like her flamboyant style and outgoing personality on the show, but others question how much she knew about Tom Girardi‘s alleged illegal acts that defrauded several of his clients. Now, it’s being reported that potential jurors for the trial will be asked about the star as well as other forms of entertainment they might consume as a way to weed out bias.
Erika married Tom in 2000, and she filed for divorce in 2020. According to reports, she filed for divorce because she didn’t feel like a priority despite their long marriage. He was also first accused of embezzlement in 2020.
The disgraced lawyer was disbarred two years later after the State Bar of California received 205 complaints over his alleged crimes. He is accused of stealing settlement money from various clients.
In documents obtained by Reality Blurb, a questionnaire given to potential jurors asks them about what entertainment they consume. In particular, they will be asked if they enjoy true crime content and if they have seen Erika on RHOBH.
Some of the questions include:
Have you seen or heard any video or audio content (including broadcast or streamed content) or read any print media that mentioned in any way Tom Girardi or his wife Erika Girardi (a/k/a Erika Jayne)?
Have you ever watched/do you watch The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills shows on the Bravo network?
Have you seen, heard or read any other form of media, like podcasts, social media, blogs, etc., related to The Real Housewives or The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills?
Are you familiar with Erika Girardi, a/k/a Erika Jayne?
There are about 100 possible jurors for the trial. They will also be asked questions about their educational background and their preconceived notions about the case.
Tom, who is now 85, was recently found to be competent enough to stand trial over embezzling $18 million from his clients between 2010 and 2020. The same is true for his former bookkeeper. Currently, he is not behind bars thanks to a $250,000 bond, and he lives in the memory ward of a nursing home.
He is pursuing Chapter 7 bankruptcy, and the estranged couple listed their home for a reported $13 million. It’s important to note that Erika is not being charged for any wrongdoing.
Tom’s trial officially began on August 6, 2024.