Three men and two women have been chosen as jurors in the rape trial of Harvey Weinstein, as the judge cautioned against using the case to make a broader statement about the "MeToo" movement.
Weinstein, 67, has pleaded not guilty to charges of assaulting two women, and faces life in prison if convicted on the most serious charge, predatory sexual assault.
Since 2017, more than 80 women, including many famous actresses, have accused him of sexual misconduct dating back decades.
Weinstein has denied the allegations, saying any sexual encounters he had were consensual.
The allegations helped fuel the MeToo movement, in which women have gone public with misconduct allegations against powerful men in business, entertainment and politics.
"This trial is not a referendum on the MeToo movement," James Burke told the potential jurors on Thursday.
"You must decide this case on the evidence."
The jury pool included supermodel Gigi Hadid, though she was excused from service shortly after reporting to court.
The jurors were chosen from a pool of about 140 people who passed a pre-screening process.
Prosecutors, Weinstein's lawyers and Burke are striving to select 12 jurors and six alternates before opening statements, which are expected to begin on January 22.
Actors during the 2018 Cannes Film Festival take a stand against what they describe as pervasive gender inequality in the film industry. Source: AAP
Weinstein's trial began on January 6 and is expected to last up to two months.
Weinstein, once one of Hollywood's most powerful producers, made his mark with critically acclaimed films such as The English Patient and Shakespeare in Love.
