• Ryan Routh faces charges for allegedly trying to assassinate Trump while he played golf.
• Routh is representing himself in the trial, which began jury selection on Monday.
• The trial is expected to take approximately three weeks, with opening statements scheduled soon.
• U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon oversees the jury selection process amid various legal challenges.
• Routh's actions reportedly followed months of meticulous planning.

The federal trial of Ryan Routh, charged with attempting to assassinate Donald Trump while the former president played golf, has begun with jury selection at the courthouse in Fort Pierce, Florida. Jury selection is expected to last three days, with the process aiming to finalize a jury of 12 members and four alternates. Opening statements are scheduled for Thursday, and the courtroom has been blocked off for four weeks for the trial, although both sides anticipate wrapping up sooner than that, according to latimes and abcnews.

Routh, who has a history of legal troubles including past felonies, is representing himself in court despite being advised by U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon that this is a "bad idea." During jury selection, Routh expressed his frustration at being barred from asking some of his proposed questions, which were dismissed as irrelevant, including queries about potential jurors' views on international issues and even a turtle on the road, as reported by scmp and latimes.

As part of the preparations for the trial, jurors have been filling out questionnaires and undergoing questioning about possible biases. Routh, who has pleaded not guilty to charges including attempted assassination, had been plotting his attack for weeks prior to the incident, according to prosecutors. On September 15, 2024, he attempted to execute his plan at Trump's golf course by aiming a rifle toward the former president, only to be thwarted by a Secret Service agent, who fired at him, as detailed by abcnews and latimes.

Routh's history includes attempts to recruit fighters during various conflicts, and he has been embroiled in multiple legal issues, which add complexity to his current trial. The judge has allowed him to use the podium while addressing the jury, but he remains partially shackled during proceedings, per court protocol, as reported by scmp and abcnews.