Ghislaine Maxwell, the British socialite facing charges of recruiting teenage girls for financier Jeffrey Epstein to sexually abuse, will have public and news media at her trial’s jury selection as her bid to bar them was rejected by a judge on Thursday.

US District Judge Alison J Nathan said the press and public will be allowed to view the selection proceedings next month through video feeds to the courtroom. The judge will also allow two pool reporters into the courtroom as she questions prospective jurors.

Nathan said she strove to balance the public’s right to access court proceedings with health measures, such as adding extra space between parties, that have been put in place because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Associated Press reported.

The defence’s request to prevent the public from seeing the blank questionnaire that will be given to about 600 people who will be summoned as prospective jurors in the high-profile case was also denied by the judge.

Maxwell’s lawyers argued for questioning prospective jurors behind closed doors because they said that as part of the process they may be asked to divulge sensitive information, such as if they have been sexually abused.

The defence’s request to select jurors in secret was opposed in the court by the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, a journalist consortium, and more than a dozen news organisations.

“We’re all aware that there’s been intense media and public interest in this case. These procedures will ensure the First Amendment rights to public access as is necessary and required by law,” Nathan said.

The jury selection in the case is scheduled to begin on November 4. The court will select 12 primary jurors and six alternates through this process. 

The defence will have 10 peremptory challenges and the prosecution will have six for the selection of primary jurors. Each side will get three challenges in the matter of alternatives.

The case will then move to opening statements on November 29.