A judge presiding over former President Trump's hush money case in New York on Thursday ruled that the jury members must not be publicly identified during the trial, which is scheduled to start later this month.

The big picture: Judge Juan Merchan raised concerns in his protective order that extend to courtroom staff about "a likelihood of bribery, jury tampering, or of physical injury or harassment of juror(s)" if they didn't remain anonymous.

Trump was indicted in March last year by a Manhattan grand jury and charged with 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in the first degree in the case that's related to a 2016 hush money payment to adult film actress Stormy Daniels. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges.

State of play: Merchan noted in his ruling that both parties agreed to the order prohibiting the public disclosure of the jurors' names.

He said he would rule later on Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg's request that the judge impose a partial gag order on Trump — an application the likely Republican presidential nominee's attorneys object to, arguing that it would be "unconstitutional and unlawful."

    (The problem being that fanatic Trump supporters hae threatened judges, prosecutors, witnesses and court employees.  Jury intimidation is also expected.)