After several hours of arguments over various evidentiary and procedural matters, jury selection is nearly ready to get underway.

"This is what we're going to do -- sit down and relax," Judge Merchan told attorneys for both sides. "We have 500 jurors waiting for us. And to be honest with you, I'm not interested in getting into this minutiae with you."

"There's more important work to be done," he said.

Before moving on, Merchan assured attorneys for both parties that his pretrial rulings are subject to change over the course of the trial.

"This is a roadmap," Merchan said, referring to his rulings. "I can reverse myself, I can change my mind."

Merchan then began reading instructions to the attorneys about how to conduct themselves before prospective jurors.

After a break, Judge Merchan ruled that prosecutors can submit evidence related to Trump's attacks on his former attorney Michael Cohen if the defense first chooses to question Cohen's credibility as a witness.

Merchan said, "I imagine" the defense will seek "to discredit" Cohen -- and when they do, he said, "the door is open" for prosecutors to introduce those tweets of Trump's.

Trump has been leaning forward with his hands clasped beneath his chin as his attorney, Todd Blanche, argues about what other evidentiary guardrails should be in place.

Following the arguments over alleged witness intimidation, prosecutors signaled they may seek to have Trump held in contempt.

A limited gag order Judge Merchan imposed in recent weeks prohibits Trump from attacking witnesses and others associated with the case.

"Shortly, we will be seeking order to show cause as to why defendant should not be held in contempt," prosecutor Josh Steinglass said, suggesting Trump violated Merchan's order.

Prosecutor Joshua Steinglass argued that several pieces of evidence related to Trump's alleged "pressure campaign" meant to "keep witnesses off this stand, at this trial" should be introduced at trial.

Steinglass said Trump's public commentary amounted to a "thinly veiled effort to intimidate" two of the government's star witnesses, Michael Cohen and Stormy Daniels.

"The defendant himself has publicly embraced the public strategy of going after his perceived enemies," Steinglass said.

"These tweets, phone calls and emails" should be permitted, Steinglass said. "It's a clear effort to raise the cost of cooperation."

Trump's public postings, Steinglass argued, demonstrate Trump's attempts to silence potential fact witnesses and "relate to his consciousness of guilt."

Trump attorney Todd Blanche pushed back, saying that Trump has been "facing criticism from all sides … the media and others ... and he's defending himself" to his "millions and millions of followers."

Asked to share her responses to the jury questionnaire, one prospective alternate said she wanted to "jump ahead" to Question 34, which asks whether any strong opinions of Trump would interfere with the ability to be fair.

"The last day, after some introspection, I don't think I can be impartial," the woman said. "I had every intention when I first started, but I think after the questions posed to prospective jurors and asking the questions to myself, I don't think I can be impartial."

Judge Merchan excused her without objection from the attorneys.

A prospective alternate who works for the New York City Law Department said in response to a question that she had read Trump's "Art of the Deal." Trump, who appeared to have his eyes closed, opened them right away at that response and looked at the woman.

The woman also said she had been sexually assaulted "a couple of times on the train."

Trump also appeared to have been chewing on something. He has been conferring with defense attorney Emil Bove throughout the more mundane parts of the questionnaire responses.

A chef for a "large hospitality group" said he follows the White House account on Instagram, "so when Mr. Trump was president, obviously I was receiving updates." Trump turned his head to look at the man after he had been slumped over the defense table looking down.