Washington judge officially postponed Trump’s trial for election subversion until after the Supreme Court rules on his presidential immunity claim, likely having far-reaching ramifications for this and other cases against former President.
A three-judge panel is expected to rule on this matter this month, yet weeks have gone by without any decision from them being reached. Legal experts have taken notice.
Judge Chutkan Postpones Trial Pending Appeal
US District Judge Tanya Chutkan issued a ruling Friday vacating the initial March 4 start date of Donald Trump’s trial on election interference charges, saying she would reschedule it once his appeals regarding presidential immunity have been heard and resolved.
Chutkan, a former public defender and civil litigator, has earned herself an impeccable reputation over seven years for her impartial yet tough jurisprudence. When making decisions she often draws upon her experiences representing defendants facing off against federal prosecutors with seemingly limitless resources when rendering rulings.
Chutkan’s decision to postpone proceedings in the Trump case reflects her views on judicial roles. According to her, judges must strike a balance between defendant’s First Amendment rights and protecting witnesses. She is also unwavering in her commitment that any attempts at violent overthrowing must have consequences; once sentencing a Washington, DC man who attacked a Capitol police officer 63 months of jail time for such conduct.
The Case Remains on the Calendar
Dependent upon how long the delay lasts, all four of Trump’s remaining criminal trials could move closer to November and likely intensify election-year pressure for him to pardon himself. Florida courts have accused him of hoarding classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate while Georgia charges are alleging him of interfering with that state’s 2020 elections.
Trump’s lawyers are appealing to a federal appeals court in support of their case that he should be immune from prosecution for actions carried out as president, while experts predict he won’t succeed with their argument for immunity.
Due to the postponement of the Washington trial, New York’s case alleging hush money payments to adult film star Stormy Daniels appears likely to be his next on the schedule; that trial is currently scheduled to start March 25. Florida hasn’t set its own trial date yet and could also be affected if federal immunity proceedings drag on for too long.
The Case Will Move to New York
Former President Donald Trump will stand trial in New York starting March 25, 2024 on allegations related to payments of hush money to Stormy Daniels. Manhattan District Attorney prosecutors allege he falsified business records to hide these payments, such as recording them as legal expenses.
Now set to move from Washington to New York, where Judge Juan Merchan will preside, President Donald Trump’s legal team argued the case should take place in federal court instead due to actions that took place while he was president – this issue is currently before an appeals court.
Decisions could take weeks and push the trial into an election year. A delay could also hinder special counsel Jack Smith’s investigation of classified documents at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate which is scheduled to commence this May. Additionally, immunity claims may continue their legal battle before going all the way up to the Supreme Court, should it not be resolved through appeals courts.
The Case Will Move to Florida
Now that the Washington case against Trump has been delayed, his trial in New York over allegations of payoffs to porn actor Stormy Daniels could commence first. That case represents one of his four criminal charges and its prosecutors want it heard as soon as possible ahead of the 2024 presidential election.
However, no timetable has been set as to when this will take place. A three-judge panel is currently considering Trump’s appeal which requests that the Supreme Court provide its judgment regarding his claim of presidential immunity.
As soon as Washington courts decide how to handle Trump’s immunity claim, his trial could move to Florida where prosecutors have accused him of illegally keeping classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago resort. A Florida trial could begin as soon as April or early May but could even be postponed depending on what happens with an appeals court ruling on this claim of immunity from prosecution.
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