Twelve jurors and six alternates were picked Monday to hear Ghislaine Maxwell’s case. Maxwell, an associate of the late sex offender and accused sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein, is on trial for allegedly helping Epstein procure and abuse young girls. Hours were spent in the morning choosing the jury, with much of the time devoted to weighing whether two prospective jurors could work throughout the six weeks the trial is projected to last. One prospective juror was dismissed after he acknowledged he’d had to listen to someone he knew who was “passionate” about the case. Another juror’s employment was in jeopardy until the judge contacted the employer to speed the process of approval for the juror’s service. During the proceedings, Maxwell, 59, gazed frequently at her sister, who was seated in the front row of a spectator section diminished in space by COVID-19-related restrictions. After the jury was finalized, opening statements were offered. …