Staff Reports
In a move that set the tone for Donald Trump's future legal battles, Judge Tanya Chutankan of the District of Columbia denied a request from the former president's lawyers to change the hearing date for a protective order against him. The order was issued after Trump made a post on social media attacking Mike Pence.
Even though both parties were trying to find a suitable date for the hearing, Judge Chutkan decided to keep the proceeding on August 11th, even though both the Department of Justice and Trump's legal team had agreed that the date should be changed. This decision has raised questions about the judge's impartiality, and it suggests that he might be biased against Trump's team.
The decision of Judge Chutkan to not allow the primary lawyers of Donald Trump to participate in the case could be influenced by her previous work. For instance, she handled cases related to the January 6th election. It’s possible that she has a similar bias because she is preparing for the case with the same level of prejudice.
It's common for hearings to be rescheduled to accommodate the parties involved. Since both parties had already agreed to the compromise, there was no reason to reject this request.
No surprise – Judge Chutkan denies the hearing date(s) requested by Trump's lawyers.
Unclear whether both of Trump's lawyers can make it.
August 11 hearing date on the protective order. (Take a guess on whose protective order she'll favor…) https://t.co/i0eq30GSmb pic.twitter.com/y3B8sfAW8M
— Techno Fog (@Techno_Fog) August 8, 2023
The judge's apparent desire to expedite the proceedings at the expense of fairness has also raised concerns. Trump's lawyers asked for a delay of four days, but Chutkan refused to entertain this request, which suggests that she might be trying to finish the trial before the November election, which could affect his legal strategy.
Although Trump's lawyers will have to adjust their strategies based on the operating style of Judge Chutkan, it's clear that they will face a tough battle against her. If the situation continues like this, Trump could potentially be facing a conviction before the election even occurs.
The decision by Judge Chutkan not to grant the Trump team's request to reschedule the hearing has raised concerns about the judge's impartiality. Her apparent bias and spite may have influenced her decision to expedite the process, which could affect the trial's integrity.
The legal team of Donald Trump will have to make changes to its strategy following the judge's decision. With Chutkan ruling on the case, his team may not have many options. The possibility of a conviction before November's election is real, and conservative groups should be worried about the possible implications of the case.
