criminal trial of former president trump, and the role of the alternate jurors could be crucial cnn's brian todd has a look victor amara the title alternate juror may not sound very glamorous, and it really isn't. but experts say in a trial this intense, don't discount the importance of the alternate already two empaneled jurors have been excused from former president trump's hush money trial, underscoring just how crucial the six alternate jurors are, who've just been seated in a case of this length& in a high-profile case, the alternates are as significant as the regular jury panel because there's a very high likelihood and probability in this case that one or more of those alternates are going to end up on the journey. >> the alternate juror is there to take over a spot on the 12 member regular jury if one of the regulars has to drop out of the trial one of the reasons could be illness they could have a family emergency or