Alan Derschowitz: Judge Merchan is a "Tyrant" and the Worst Judge I've Ever Seen; He Threatened to Strike All of Bob Costello's Testimony -- Depriving the Defendant of His Defense Witness -- if Costello <i>Raised an Eyebrow</i> Over His Insane Rulings

Alan Derschowitz: Judge Merchan is a "Tyrant" and the Worst Judge I've Ever Seen; He Threatened to Strike All of Bob Costello's Testimony -- Depriving the Defendant of His Defense Witness -- if Costello Raised an Eyebrow Over His Insane Rulings

I have observed and participated in trials throughout the world. I have seen justice and injustice in China, Russia, Ukraine, England, France, Italy, Israel, as well as in nearly 40 of our 50 states.

Nearly 40? I think you can safely go right ahead and name the number, Alan. We can handle numbers as large as 39 or 38 without having to round to the nearest ten.

But in my 60 years as a lawyer and law professor, I have never seen a spectacle such as the one I observed sitting in the front row of the courthouse yesterday.
The judge in Donald Trump's trial was an absolute tyrant, though he appeared to the jury to be a benevolent despot. He seemed automatically to be ruling against the defendant at every turn.
Many experienced lawyers raised their eyebrows when the judge excluded obviously relevant evidence when offered by the defense, while including irrelevant evidence offered by the prosecution.
But when the defense's only substantive witness, the experienced attorney Robert Costello, raised his eyebrows at one of New York Supreme Court Justice Juan Merchan's rulings, the court went berserk.
Losing his cool and showing his thin skin, the judge cleared the courtroom of everyone including the media.
For some reason, I was allowed to stay, and I observed one of the most remarkable wrong-headed biases I have ever seen. The judge actually threatened to strike all of Costello's testimony if he raised his eyebrows again.
That of course would have been unconstitutional because it would have denied the defendant his Sixth Amendment right to confront witnesses and to raise a defense.
It would have punished the defendant for something a witness was accused of doing.
Even if what Costello did was wrong, and it was not, it would be utterly improper and unlawful to strike his testimony -- testimony that undercut and contradicted the government's star witness.
The judge's threat was absolutely outrageous, unethical, unlawful and petty.
Moreover, his affect while issuing that unconstitutional threat revealed his utter contempt for the defense and anyone who testified for the defendant.
The public should have been able to see the judge in action, but because the case is not being televised, the public has to rely on the biased reporting of partisan journalists.

The judge has repeatedly allowed Michael Cohen to testify that he pleaded guilty to campaign finance charges, insinuating that those are the actions under dispute in this trial.

The defense wanted to bring in a witness to explain that those charges have nothing to do with this trial.

Judge Merchan refused.

Merchan says that only he gets to tell the jury what the law is -- even when he misstates it, or schemes with the Soros DAs to falsely imply that there are proven campaign finance abuses here.

BRAD SMITH: WHAT I WOULD HAVE TOLD THE TRUMP JURY.
In recent days, it has become clear that the Trump trial, in which Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg seeks to imprison former President Donald Trump for a maximum of 136 years over allegedly false bookkeeping, will somehow come down to federal campaign finance law. In this way: Trump is charged with falsifying his company's business records regarding his payment for a legal nondisclosure agreement with the porn actress Stormy Daniels -- and doing so with the intention of committing another crime. But prosecutors have never specified what that other crime is.
In various court filings, however, prosecutors have suggested they plan to argue that Trump intended, along with the false bookkeeping, to violate a state law that bars promoting a political candidacy "by unlawful means." That's the other crime, prosecutors will say, and the "unlawful means" will be a violation of the Federal Election Campaign Act, or FECA, the 1970s-era law that regulates political fundraising and spending in federal elections.
That would create a weird situation: a local district attorney in New York prosecuting federal law. "One would say Bragg is outside of his lane, but in this case, he's on a completely different highway," George Washington University law professor Jonathan Turley told Fox News in March. "This is an effort by a state official to effectively prosecute a federal crime, a crime that the Department of Justice decided not to prosecute."
But that's what Bragg apparently plans to do. And that led the Trump defense to consult an expert in federal campaign finance law to be ready to testify in the event that Bragg's prosecutors do indeed characterize the Trump case as based on a violation of federal election law. The expert they chose was former Federal Election Commission Chairman Brad Smith, who is certainly one of the leading authorities in the nation on the application of FECA.
Smith has been an outspoken opponent of what he views is the overapplication of campaign finance law. Specifically, as this newsletter noted a couple of weeks ago, Smith "has argued that there are all sorts of things a candidate can spend money on that are not legally classifiable as 'for the purpose of influencing any election.'" Among those things would be the nondisclosure agreement Trump reached with Daniels.
The problem for Trump is that Judge Juan Merchan does not want to hear from Smith. Early on, Merchan barred Smith from testifying about virtually anything that had anything to do with the Trump case. He barred Smith from testifying about the campaign finance laws at the heart of Bragg's charges against Trump. He barred Smith from testifying about anything except general facts about the job of the FEC or the definition of some common campaign terms. In the end, the Trump team decided it was not worth calling Smith to testify under what amounted to a judicial gag order.
So Smith left the courthouse without testifying on Monday. As he headed home, we had a phone conversation about what he would have told the jury had Merchan allowed it.

Hit the link for his full would-be testimony. Basically, he wanted to explain that when people hear legal terms like "unlawfully influence," they will read their own common sense plain-meaning definitions into the term.

But he wanted to point out the FEC had made many, many rulings on what unlawful influence is -- and what it is not -- that are the controlling meaning.

Smith offered another example. "Go back to 1999. Hillary Clinton buys a house in New York. She bought it clearly to influence the election -- I mean absolutely, right? -- because she had to have a residence in New York. It is totally indisputable -- that is a reason why she bought it. But it's not a campaign expenditure. It doesn't matter. People buy houses. We would have wanted to inform the jury about the notion of personal use and talked about the idea that what is a campaign expense is an objective test, not a subjective test."
When it comes to the details of the Trump prosecution, knowing how campaign finance law works has led Smith to believe that what is alleged to be the core violation in the case, that paying Daniels amounted to a campaign contribution or a campaign expenditure, is simply not true. "I can tell you my personal belief is that clearly paying hush money, or paying for a nondisclosure agreement, does not constitute a campaign expense," Smith said. "To use an example I've often used, it's not a campaign expense if a businessperson is running for office and his businesses are getting sued, and if he goes to his company lawyers and says, 'I want to settle these lawsuits against us. We've got some wage employment lawsuits and a woman is alleging sexual harassment. We've got 36,000 employees, but we've got these three complaints and the press will make a big deal about them. So I want you to settle these.' And the company lawyers say, 'No, these are great cases we should win. We shouldn't settle them.' He says, 'I don't care. I'm running for office. I don't want press stories on it. I want you to settle them quietly.' Well, he cannot use campaign funds to pay that settlement, even though he is clearly doing it for the purpose of influencing his campaign."
"It's kind of similar to what went on here," Smith continued, referring to the Trump case. "So my personal belief is that this clearly would not have been a campaign expenditure, never had to be reported, and therefore was not misreported."
Smith stressed again that he did not plan to testify about the specifics of the Trump case. Instead, he hoped to "lay out some of the factual work of the law -- how does the law work in practice?" But that's not going to happen.

As I've mentioned before: Even though Merchan made illegal donations to Biden and the Democrats -- I guess judges aren't allowed to do that in NY -- he was "hand-picked" to oversee the Trump Lynching Party.

"It is very clear, they say you can't make political contributions and he did," Turley said on "Fox and Friends" after co-host Ainsley Earhardt mentioned the donations. "And the fact it is 'de minimus' or small, really, I think, misses the point. You make donations to show your support, that is what that $15 did."
"What's also concerning for many is that Merchan was not randomly selected, he was hand-picked as the judge for this case, and many of us don't understand it," Turley continued. "You have a judge who is donor to the president, whose daughter is a major Democratic operative, you would think this would be an easy call, there are plenty of other judges."
Loren Merchan, the judge's daughter, works for a firm that helped Democratic causes raise $93 million off Trump's indictment in the case centering around a $130,000 payout to porn star Stormy Daniels, the New York Post reported. Merchan expanded a previously-issued gag order April 1 after former President Trump posted a link to the New York Post's report.

Legal expert Jonathan Turley calls out Judge Merchan for attempting to influence the outcome of the case by limiting the FEC commissioner's testimony

"This witness was needed bc this judge has allowed the jury to hear there were campaign violations & there were NOT. I'm quite� pic.twitter.com/SsZoJI6EfT
— johnny maga (@_johnnymaga) May 21, 2024

Posted by: Disinformation Expert Ace at 04:25 PM

Comments

(Jump to bottom of comments)

1 Judge Merchan is asshoe.

Posted by: Hairyback Guy at May 22, 2024 04:27 PM (R/m4+)

2 hiya

Posted by: JT at May 22, 2024 04:27 PM (T4tVD)

3
Ft. Sumter has been under fire for a while now.

Posted by: Auspex at May 22, 2024 04:30 PM (j4U/Z)

4 *types *

*deletes *

Posted by: Beartooth at May 22, 2024 04:31 PM (XT+5H)

5 When do they bring charges against Dershowitz for... logic or something heinous like know the actual law????

Posted by: I'm smarht, I have a PhD in Edumacation! at May 22, 2024 04:32 PM (cDvOu)

6 When Trump wins, their asses are on the line. The weeks after the election are going to be ... interesting.

Posted by: mrp at May 22, 2024 04:32 PM (rj6Yv)

7 Even Kangaroos are embarrassed by this judge.

Posted by: Beartooth at May 22, 2024 04:32 PM (XT+5H)

8 Nearly 40? I think you can safely go right ahead and name the number, Alan. We can handle numbers as large as 39 or 38 without having to round to the nearest ten.

I guarantee you, it's in all 57 states plus territories.

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at May 22, 2024 04:32 PM (ynpvh)

9 Well Alan, you voted for this, you supported this in the public square and have been a spokesperson for the left for how long? I’ll give you this, you have enough awareness to realize that you are going to be on the first train to the camps. Enjoy the ride.

Posted by: Crusader Rabbit at May 22, 2024 04:33 PM (Jpaxf)

10 The odds that none of this matters and the jury will convict anyway are...?

Posted by: gourmand du jour at May 22, 2024 04:33 PM (MeG8a)

11
When do they bring charges against Dershowitz for... logic or something heinous like know the actual law????
Posted by: I'm smarht, I have a PhD in Edumacation!

Badmouthing a Judge

Thirty days in the hole.

Posted by: Bertram Cabot, Jr. at May 22, 2024 04:33 PM (63Dwl)

12 Multiple conflicts of interest for the judge.

Preside over a biased trial and show the jury by your total comportment that you believe the defendant is absolutely guilty.

Then send them home for a week to think. Maybe to listen to MSNBC and CNN and The View the whole time.

We see a lot of craziness these days, but this is just utterly insane.

Posted by: RM at May 22, 2024 04:34 PM (urbih)

13 Elise Stefanik has filed an ethics complaint in NY against Merchan because of his daughter's work in promoting Democrats. I don't know if it will do any good, but I'm glad she did that.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at May 22, 2024 04:35 PM (XkYcA)

14 my hash is all over the place... seems like I've had a new one everyday.

Posted by: lin-duh at May 22, 2024 04:35 PM (cDvOu)

15
Well Alan, you voted for this, you supported this in the public square and have been a spokesperson for the left for how long?

Derschowitz and Maher

Posted by: Bertram Cabot, Jr. at May 22, 2024 04:35 PM (63Dwl)

16 Wow. I used to loathe Dershowitz. I have a new respect for him now.

Still a big lib, I assume, but at least an honest one, some of the time.

Posted by: Bulgaroctonus at May 22, 2024 04:35 PM (v6JzV)

17 If your immediate family was getting tens of million$ and more the longer you can drag the shit show out you would be just as slanted as this "Judge" is. Maybe.

- and -

If you ever wondered why judges in unstabel countries get whacked by all sides, see this guy.

Posted by: Itinerant Alley Butcher at May 22, 2024 04:35 PM (cOq4q)

18 Why was Dershowitz allowed to remain in the courtroom when everyone else was cleared? That's odd.

Posted by: Ribbed at May 22, 2024 04:35 PM (Ectld)

19 Is Juan Merchan the Angel Hernandez of the judicial system, or is Angel Hernandez the Juan Merchan of baseball umpires?

Posted by: Stu Podaso at May 22, 2024 04:36 PM (RMngd)

20 Badmouthing a Judge

Thirty days in the hole.
Posted by: Bertram Cabot, Jr.

My late brother was an attorney. He once got sanctioned for rolling his eyes at a judge.

Posted by: Bulgaroctonus at May 22, 2024 04:37 PM (v6JzV)

21 Posted by: Crusader Rabbit at May 22, 2024 04:33 PM (Jpaxf)

I don't know who he voted for in the last election or if he voted, but it's clear from what he says in his writing in "Frontline" and in his books, that he's not Democrat Plantation as currently constituted.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at May 22, 2024 04:37 PM (XkYcA)

22 Multiple conflicts of interest for the judge.

Preside over a biased trial and show the jury by your total comportment that you believe the defendant is absolutely guilty.

Then send them home for a week to think. Maybe to listen to MSNBC and CNN and The View the whole time.

We see a lot of craziness these days, but this is just utterly insane.

Posted by: RM

This trial will never survive an appeal.

Posted by: rickb223 at May 22, 2024 04:37 PM (ofCHO)

23 Woodchipper prices are gonna go through the roof this fall.

Posted by: Ribbed at May 22, 2024 04:37 PM (Ectld)

24 Nearly 40? I think you can safely go right ahead and name the number, Alan. We can handle numbers as large as 39 or 38 without having to round to the nearest ten.
================

I want him to name the ~10 he has seen neither justice nor injustice in.

Dakotas have to be on the list. Do they even have courts there or is it straight to the chipper?

Posted by: Itinerant Alley Butcher at May 22, 2024 04:38 PM (cOq4q)

25 Has Arizona indicted Dershowitz yet?

Posted by: Thomas Paine at May 22, 2024 04:38 PM (lTGtQ)

26 PDT will be found guilty, a superior court will reprimand Marchan and send the case back to Marchan with orders to get it right. Marchan will ignore the superior court.

Posted by: Blake - semi lurker at large at May 22, 2024 04:38 PM (mm0EH)

27 Has a crime even been identified in this courtroom? Last I read, the answer is no.

Posted by: gourmand du jour at May 22, 2024 04:39 PM (MeG8a)

28 Posted by: Bulgaroctonus at May 22, 2024 04:37 PM (v6JzV)

I think it's hilarious if there's some actual rule about not rolling your eyes at a Judge.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at May 22, 2024 04:39 PM (XkYcA)

29 @Blake Where do you get this nonsense? Like that has ever happened. We are a nation of laws!

Posted by: Ribbed at May 22, 2024 04:39 PM (Ectld)

30 This trial looks like it was modeled on that in "Idiocracy."

Posted by: Deplorable Jay Guevara at May 22, 2024 04:40 PM (YqDXo)

31 Why can nothing be done?
Does it have to wait for a verdict for a higher court to step in and say this is not the way Justice is done?
From the beginning, everything that has been done to Trump has been perverted to charge him with a crime even when no crime has been committed. For there to be fraud someon had to be harmed. But no one was harmed in the RE trial. How can a person be brought to trial when there is no crime?
There was no state crime committed and yet Trump put on trial for a Federal crime that the Feds said wasn't a crime.
He was sued for calling Jean Carrol a liar when she called him a rapist but couldn't remember when the rape took place.

Posted by: Sharon(willow's apprentice) at May 22, 2024 04:40 PM (t/2Uw)

32 Things having to do with the Federal Election Campaign Act are . . .

FECA(L) matters

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at May 22, 2024 04:40 PM (J2vNu)

33 Considering that Dershowitz has been linked to Epstein, I'm surprised that he's bucking the lib establishment as vociferously as he has of late.

But maybe they don't want to open up that can or worms, since so many establishment folks have been so linked.

Posted by: Bulgaroctonus at May 22, 2024 04:40 PM (v6JzV)

34 1 Judge Merchan is asshoe.

Posted by: Hairyback Guy at May 22, 2024 04:27 PM (R/m4+)

Assholes are useful for expelling excrement. Merchan is not even excrement, as that is also useful.

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at May 22, 2024 04:41 PM (ynpvh)

35 >>>I don't know who he voted for in the last election or if he voted, but it's clear from what he says in his writing in "Frontline" and in his books, that he's not Democrat Plantation as currently constituted.
Posted by: FenelonSpoke at May 22, 2024 04:37 PM (XkYcA)
*************
I don’t know who he voted for last time either, but he was admittedly in the tank for Cankles and has been a leftist advocate for a long time. My guess, he having a gallows conversion.

Posted by: Crusader Rabbit at May 22, 2024 04:41 PM (Jpaxf)

36 I think The Trumpster is toast and that the jury will absolutely convict him and the "judge" will immediately put him in custody. Yes, it will be overturned on appeal...eventually. Meanwhile no campaign, no rallies, and especially no "debates". Things are going to get a whole lot worse from here.

Posted by: Blast Hardcheese at May 22, 2024 04:41 PM (PWI4f)

37 I think it's hilarious if there's some actual rule about not rolling your eyes at a Judge.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at May 22, 2024 04:39 PM

It's in the good and plenty clause in the constitution....it's literally right there in black and white and IIRC you can be hanged for doing it to a judge during a trial.

Posted by: Mister Scott (Formerly GWS) at May 22, 2024 04:41 PM (QNSds)

38 And it's only getting more clown-world as we close in on November

Buckle up

Posted by: Zeera the ungoverened at May 22, 2024 04:41 PM (YoS4M)

39 20 Badmouthing a Judge

Thirty days in the hole.
Posted by: Bertram Cabot, Jr.

My late brother was an attorney. He once got sanctioned for rolling his eyes at a judge.

Posted by: Bulgaroctonus at May 22, 2024 04:37 PM (v6JzV)

Maybe the Judge thought he was flirting...

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at May 22, 2024 04:41 PM (ynpvh)

40 22 Multiple conflicts of interest for the judge.

Preside over a biased trial and show the jury by your total comportment that you believe the defendant is absolutely guilty.

Then send them home for a week to think. Maybe to listen to MSNBC and CNN and The View the whole time.

We see a lot of craziness these days, but this is just utterly insane.

Posted by: RM

This trial will never survive an appeal.

Posted by: rickb223 at May 22, 2024 04:37 PM (ofCHO)

Depends on how bought-and-sold the appelate court is.

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at May 22, 2024 04:42 PM (ynpvh)

41 @Ribbed. I'm going by the Sullivan/Gen Flynn playbook.

Posted by: Blake - semi lurker at large at May 22, 2024 04:42 PM (mm0EH)

42 None of this makes any sense. It feels like I've fallen down Alice in Wondreland's rabbit hole and the Red Queen is yelling off with his head.

Posted by: Sharon(willow's apprentice) at May 22, 2024 04:42 PM (t/2Uw)

43 28 Posted by: Bulgaroctonus at May 22, 2024 04:37 PM (v6JzV)

I think it's hilarious if there's some actual rule about not rolling your eyes at a Judge.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at May 22, 2024 04:39 PM (XkYcA)

What if ya blow 'im a kiss?

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at May 22, 2024 04:43 PM (ynpvh)

44 The New York justice system is a travesty. It is a feral organization that devotes itself to a single-party state.

Posted by: mrp at May 22, 2024 04:43 PM (rj6Yv)

45 @Blake Yeah I was clowning. I had forgotten that, but you reminded me.

Posted by: Ribbed at May 22, 2024 04:43 PM (B0mGw)

46 So many norms restored I can’t even right now man.
- Goucher College Grad , Jonah Goldberg

Posted by: Montec at May 22, 2024 04:43 PM (Y6Wgg)

47 I bite my thumb but I do not bite my thumb at the judge.

Posted by: Bertram Cabot, Jr. at May 22, 2024 04:43 PM (63Dwl)

48 36 I think The Trumpster is toast and that the jury will absolutely convict him and the "judge" will immediately put him in custody. Yes, it will be overturned on appeal...eventually. Meanwhile no campaign, no rallies, and especially no "debates". Things are going to get a whole lot worse from here.

Posted by: Blast Hardcheese at May 22, 2024 04:41 PM (PWI4f)
_______________

But Trump won't need any of those things if Merchan puts him in custody. Trump's support will skyrocket without his having lifted a finger.

Posted by: Deplorable Jay Guevara at May 22, 2024 04:43 PM (YqDXo)

49 My late brother was an attorney. He once got sanctioned for rolling his eyes at a judge.
Posted by: Bulgaroctonus at May 22, 2024 04:37 PM (v6JzV)

Attorney for defense or prosecution...sure, maybe.

You don't do this in open court to a witness when while the witness is testifying unless they aren't following lower court rules for testimony...and then its "counselors...to my chambers!" in order to discuss the rules again. You never, ever prejudice your court to the jury. To do so is to face bench removal by the judicial conduct review board...I think that it next for Merchan at some point down the road when his usefulness has past...

Posted by: Boswell at May 22, 2024 04:43 PM (K+UlC)

50 "Merchan made illegal donations to Biden and the Democrats -- I guess judges aren't allowed to do that in NY -- he was "hand-picked" to oversee the Trump Lynching Party."

So "they" agree not to prosecute Cohen if he will help with the lynching of Trump, AND (perhaps) agree not to disciple or prosecute Merchan if he will lynch Trump.

S.O.P for the terrorist organization we call the FBI. More than six ways to Sunday to get their (innocent) man.

Posted by: illiniwek at May 22, 2024 04:43 PM (Cus5s)

51 30 This trial looks like it was modeled on that in "Idiocracy."

Posted by: Deplorable Jay Guevara at May 22, 2024 04:40 PM (YqDXo)

Dildos strapped onto your car...while being pursued by monster trucks...

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at May 22, 2024 04:43 PM (ynpvh)

52 Depends on how bought-and-sold the appelate court is.
Posted by: jim

I doubt the state level of pellet courts will go along with this bullshit kangaroo court

Posted by: rickb223 at May 22, 2024 04:44 PM (ofCHO)

53 Posted by: Crusader Rabbit at May 22, 2024 04:41 PM (Jpaxf)

Yes;I know he voted for Hillary, but he's definitely no longer a far left Democrat.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at May 22, 2024 04:44 PM (XkYcA)

54 11
When do they bring charges against Dershowitz for... logic or something heinous like know the actual law????
Posted by: I'm smarht, I have a PhD in Edumacation!

Badmouthing a Judge

Thirty days in the hole.

Posted by: Bertram Cabot, Jr. at May 22, 2024 04:33 PM (63Dwl)

I'm excited!

Posted by: Petey Bootyjudge at May 22, 2024 04:44 PM (ynpvh)

55 Juan Merchan is the Roland Freisler of Alcee Hastings'

Posted by: San Franpsycho at May 22, 2024 04:45 PM (RIvkX)

56 Worth remembering that at his two most recent trials, the Trump scorecard is:

One witness admitting he stole from Trump

A supposed victim denying they were a victim while admitting they would like to continue doing business with Mr. Trump

Posted by: The Central Scrutinizer at May 22, 2024 04:45 PM (KbCG3)

57 Was thinking today either Merchan is a Bolshevik and wishes he could kill thousands or they know this won't work and are not trying to Jail Trump knowing this is a scam Kangaroo Court

Posted by: Skip at May 22, 2024 04:45 PM (fwDg9)

58 The whole thing really smells bad.
This was orchestrated by the dems from way up top. They know Biden is weak so let’s ruffle Trump with lawfare.
Polls say young and independent voters aren’t buying this. And it has only hardened Trumps base.
Unbelievable miscalculation.

Posted by: Redenzo at May 22, 2024 04:45 PM (V/pbu)

59 Trump should have done what was right, instead he played politics when he was Pres.

Live and learn.

Posted by: Disgusted at May 22, 2024 04:46 PM (Z8Yh2)

60 Let's hope you're right, Redenzo. I'm not sure they're done yet. Once they get their conviction, it's wall to wall shrieking about the felon.

Posted by: Ribbed at May 22, 2024 04:46 PM (B0mGw)

61 What if ya blow 'im a kiss?
Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at May 22, 2024 04:43 PM (ynpvh

Well, Merchan wouldn't be a judge whom I would blow a kiss to.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at May 22, 2024 04:46 PM (XkYcA)

62 61 What if ya blow 'im a kiss?
Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at May 22, 2024 04:43 PM (ynpvh

Well, Merchan wouldn't be a judge whom I would blow a kiss to.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at May 22, 2024 04:46 PM (XkYcA)

Guy was pissed off with my brother; apparrently he thought my bro had cut him off in traffic. So the guy chases to catch up and when his car passed my bro's car, bro blows him a kiss, leaving the guy confused and even more angry...

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at May 22, 2024 04:47 PM (ynpvh)

63 Once Trump goes away this will all end and things will get back to normal.

Posted by: ... at May 22, 2024 04:48 PM (lX8VI)

64 Unbelievable miscalculation.
Posted by: Redenzo at May 22, 2024 04:45 PM (V/pbu)

I pray that this is true.

I want to believe.

But, well...*waves hand vaguely*

Posted by: Pug Mahon, I May No Longer Be able To Even at May 22, 2024 04:48 PM (hZc6Q)

65 @Ribbed, I knew you were clowning. The sad fact is, though, there is already precedent for how things are handled by our so called "courts"

Heck, I had someone admonish me when I predicted a directed guilty verdict. Sounded to me like Marchan did everything but.

Posted by: Blake - semi lurker at large at May 22, 2024 04:48 PM (mm0EH)

66 It doesn't matter.

The Democrats don't care about the rule of law. They don't care about the Constitution.

They don't care about consequences and tit-for-tat because the Republicans are on their side.

We live under tyranny, but, for now, it's trying to hide under the appearance of justice. The Soviet Union did the same thing.

Posted by: Formerly Virginian at May 22, 2024 04:48 PM (JMAcK)

67 "Objection, eye-rolling."

"Sustained."

"Objection, improper stink-eye."

"Sustained."

"I move that the witness's entire testimony be stricken on account of Resting Bitch Face."

"Motion granted. The witness will be excused."

Posted by: Frasier Crane at May 22, 2024 04:48 PM (bNf8H)

68 @63 Yeah, right.

Posted by: Ribbed at May 22, 2024 04:48 PM (Ectld)

69 >>>Yes;I know he voted for Hillary, but he's definitely no longer a far left Democrat.
Posted by: FenelonSpoke at May 22, 2024 04:44 PM (XkYcA)
***********
Fair enough, I hope you’re right. But, when it comes to leftists/democrats (BIRM) the enemy of my enemy is not my friend. He can leave the plantation, still wouldn’t trust him at all.

Posted by: Crusader Rabbit at May 22, 2024 04:48 PM (Jpaxf)

70 Let's hope you're right, Redenzo. I'm not sure they're done yet. Once they get their conviction, it's wall to wall shrieking about the felon.
Posted by: Ribbed

Convicted of a crime they can't identify.

Posted by: rickb223 at May 22, 2024 04:49 PM (ofCHO)

71 Merchan's bias is so grossly over the top it almost seems he's deliberately discrediting the Demoncrats.

Posted by: Northernlurker at May 22, 2024 04:49 PM (JLq/1)

72 Trump won't need any of those things if Merchan puts him in custody. Trump's support will skyrocket without his having lifted a finger.
Posted by: Deplorable Jay Guevara at May 22, 2024 04:43 PM (YqDXo)

He can’t become more popular with the base. He can only lose support from fence sitters.

Posted by: Montec at May 22, 2024 04:49 PM (Y6Wgg)

73 Yell and scream and bash your head against the wall, ace.

Trump will be found guilty. Then he will be thrown in jail.

Posted by: nurse ratched at May 22, 2024 04:49 PM (Vrdez)

74 70 Let's hope you're right, Redenzo. I'm not sure they're done yet. Once they get their conviction, it's wall to wall shrieking about the felon.
Posted by: Ribbed

Convicted of a crime they can't identify.

Posted by: rickb223 at May 22, 2024 04:49 PM (ofCHO)

I went into Riker's on a Crime with no name...

Posted by: America! at May 22, 2024 04:50 PM (ynpvh)

75 This whole situation is Kafkaesque.

Posted by: Deplorable Jay Guevara at May 22, 2024 04:50 PM (YqDXo)

76 75 This whole situation is Kafkaesque.

Posted by: Deplorable Jay Guevara at May 22, 2024 04:50 PM (YqDXo)

Cacaesque too.

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at May 22, 2024 04:50 PM (ynpvh)

77 "Convicted of a crime they can't identify."

If there's one thing I've learned to count on, it's the feckless idiocy of the American voter.

Posted by: Ribbed at May 22, 2024 04:51 PM (Ectld)

78 In 2028 after 81 appeals scotus will rule a mistrial, just as Kamala is finishing up her first term after taking over from Biden.

Posted by: Montec at May 22, 2024 04:51 PM (Y6Wgg)

79 This trial will never survive an appeal.
Posted by: rickb223 at May 22, 2024 04:37 PM (ofCHO)

By then it will have done the job.

Posted by: ... at May 22, 2024 04:51 PM (lX8VI)

80 He can’t become more popular with the base. He can only lose support from fence sitters.

Posted by: Montec at May 22, 2024 04:49 PM (Y6Wgg)
____________

I suspect that even many fence sitters may well be put off by the gross bias and injustice on display here.

Posted by: Deplorable Jay Guevara at May 22, 2024 04:51 PM (YqDXo)

81 I hope this is the spark that sets off the next civil war and that the good guys actually win this time (the south)

Posted by: The Unvaxed and Unmasked Ranger - Esteemed Trump-Ho and Searcher of Wagshambas at May 22, 2024 04:52 PM (VTu1l)

82 95% of voters have no clue any of this is happening. They will just know Trump was convicted of fraud.

Posted by: Montec at May 22, 2024 04:52 PM (Y6Wgg)

83 The Democrats don't care about the rule of law. They don't care about the Constitution.

They'll start caring when they start getting shot.

Posted by: rickb223 at May 22, 2024 04:52 PM (ofCHO)

84 78 In 2028 after 81 appeals scotus will rule a mistrial, just as Kamala is finishing up her first term after taking over from Biden.

Posted by: Montec at May 22, 2024 04:51 PM (Y6Wgg)

She has her ~~hand~~ mouth on the ~~pulse~~ throbbing member of America.

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at May 22, 2024 04:52 PM (ynpvh)

85 Merchan's bias is so grossly over the top it almost seems he's deliberately discrediting the Demoncrats.
Posted by: Northernlurker at May 22, 2024 04:49 PM (JLq/1)

This could describe so many people.

Posted by: ... at May 22, 2024 04:52 PM (lX8VI)

86 Posted by: Crusader Rabbit at May 22, 2024 04:48 PM (Jpaxf)

Understood, but I have a different view of it having been a Democrat years, a DINO in name only for about 14 and now a registered Republican.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at May 22, 2024 04:52 PM (XkYcA)

87 81 I hope this is the spark that sets off the next civil war and that the good guys actually win this time (the south)

Posted by: The Unvaxed and Unmasked Ranger - Esteemed Trump-Ho and Searcher of Wagshambas at May 22, 2024 04:52 PM (VTu1l)

The South were the "Good" guys!?

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at May 22, 2024 04:53 PM (ynpvh)

88 I suspect that even many fence sitters may well be put off by the gross bias and injustice on display here.
Posted by: Deplorable Jay Guevara at May 22, 2024 04:51 PM (YqDXo)

If they knew what was happening, I’d agree. But the only people who know are also supporters. Nobody watching CNN or reading NYT has any idea what’s happening.

Posted by: Montec at May 22, 2024 04:53 PM (Y6Wgg)

89 If they knew what was happening, I’d agree. But the only people who know are also supporters. Nobody watching CNN or reading NYT has any idea what’s happening.
Posted by: Montec at May 22, 2024 04:53 PM (Y6Wgg)

Unfortunately worth repeating.

Posted by: ... at May 22, 2024 04:54 PM (lX8VI)

90 "What's also concerning for many is that Merchan was not randomly selected, he was hand-picked as the judge for this case, and many of us don't understand it," Turley continued.
__________

Can someone please explain the process for assigning judges in NY? If there was supposed to be a random selection, then there must be some explanation, no matter how ludicrous, for why it didn't happen.

Posted by: AZ Board of Pardons at May 22, 2024 04:54 PM (Dm8we)

91 The South were the "Good" guys!?

******************

How could they be bad? Every southerner I met always wants to bless my heart

Posted by: The Unvaxed and Unmasked Ranger - Esteemed Trump-Ho and Searcher of Wagshambas at May 22, 2024 04:54 PM (VTu1l)

92 Merchan says that only he gets to tell the jury what the law is -- even when he misstates it, or schemes with the Soros DAs to falsely imply that there are proven campaign finance abuses here.
---
On with the pixie hats.

And bring in the skating vicar.

Posted by: Axeman at May 22, 2024 04:54 PM (krQz2)

93 89 If they knew what was happening, I’d agree. But the only people who know are also supporters. Nobody watching CNN or reading NYT has any idea what’s happening.
Posted by: Montec at May 22, 2024 04:53 PM (Y6Wgg)

Unfortunately worth repeating.

Posted by: ... at May 22, 2024 04:54 PM (lX8VI)

And the Deep State is preventing the message from promulgation on social media as well.

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at May 22, 2024 04:54 PM (ynpvh)

94 I miss the time when I thought we lived in a country governed by the rule of law.

Posted by: Joe, living dangerously at May 22, 2024 04:54 PM (B9Prs)

95 I'm from Ohio. We know how to handle those sorts of "good guys".

Posted by: Ribbed at May 22, 2024 04:54 PM (Ectld)

96 Merchan's bias is so grossly over the top it almost seems he's deliberately discrediting the Demoncrats.
Posted by: Northernlurker at May 22, 2024 04:49 PM (JLq/1)

He's been promised lots and lots of $$ - all as the darling of the left - a book, MSNBC regular legal gig, press editorials...he's cashing in, you see...he doesn't care that NYS judicial system is going to have to reign him in and remove him in order to recover any semblance of a reputation in order to retain businesses or keep their high net worth NY citizens...it's all part of the plan!

Posted by: Boswell at May 22, 2024 04:54 PM (K+UlC)

97 Unless it's a barb wire fence.

Posted by: Bertram Cabot, Jr. at May 22, 2024 04:54 PM (63Dwl)

98 Nobody watching CNN or reading NYT has any idea what’s happening.

And their numbers have tanked.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at May 22, 2024 04:55 PM (XkYcA)

99 Heck, I had someone admonish me when I predicted a directed guilty verdict. Sounded to me like Marchan did everything but.
Posted by: Blake
--------
No power in criminal trials for a judge to issue a guilty verdict. They can set aside a guilty verdict by the jury or dismiss the case before it goes to the jury via a directed verdict but not give a directed verdict to the prosecution.

The closest thing in a criminal trial is unfairly distorting the law in the instructions to the jury but even a judge cannot overrule a jury verdict acquitting the defendant nor can appellate courts. Nor can a judge force a verdict if there are holdout jurors and those jurors cannot be forced off for alternates unless they refuse to deliberate at all.

Posted by: whig at May 22, 2024 04:55 PM (PkS4e)

100 Can someone please explain the process for assigning judges in NY? If there was supposed to be a random selection, then there must be some explanation, no matter how ludicrous, for why it didn't happen.

Posted by: AZ Board of Pardons at May 22, 2024 04:54 PM (Dm8we)
---
Highest bidder. ¯\_(ツ

_/¯

Posted by: Axeman at May 22, 2024 04:55 PM (krQz2)

101 Marchan, from here on out, should be referred to as: "The Red Queen".

Lewis Carroll nailed it, thusly:

"First the Verdict, THEN the Trial!"

Jim
Sunk New Dawn
Galveston, TX

Posted by: Jim at May 22, 2024 04:55 PM (e6UQI)

102 And bring in the skating vicar.
Posted by: Axeman at May 22, 2024 04:54 PM (krQz2)

What is a skating vicar?

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at May 22, 2024 04:56 PM (XkYcA)

103 So again, lawyers; what, if any, consequences can Judge Cocksucker face? Or that other creepy one? Are we at the place where judges get to ignore the law completely?

Posted by: UGAdawg at May 22, 2024 04:56 PM (tRd71)

104 Bad/marginal judges far outnumber the solid ones. 20 years in litigation, now retired, I've experienced both in my clients' favor and against. Even when you win w an illogical, temperamental, idiot judge it wears o you because you know your number is coming up - and it does. And they're like union employees as far as getting rid of them. They just get reassigned.

Posted by: Son of Dad at May 22, 2024 04:56 PM (8JB5s)

105 The left plays to win.

Posted by: Montec at May 22, 2024 04:56 PM (Y6Wgg)

106 "First the Verdict, THEN the Trial!"

And then the spankings!

Posted by: Zut at May 22, 2024 04:56 PM (Ectld)

107 77 "Convicted of a crime they can't identify."

If there's one thing I've learned to count on, it's the feckless idiocy of the American voter.
Posted by: Ribbed at May 22, 2024 04:51 PM (Ectld)
They couldn't identify the crime using a microscope, but they did find 'covid'.

Posted by: Eromero at May 22, 2024 04:57 PM (NxC5+)

108 The trial is in recess until next Tuesday. Final arguments on Tuesday. Merchan addresses the jury on Wednesday and tells them how they can vote guilty with a clear conscience.

Is it normal to break for a week like this before the jury goes out?

Posted by: Biergood at May 22, 2024 04:57 PM (PwgSL)

109 Anyone on Twitter(X) notice a lot of anti-Trump posts suddenly in their timeline? I mean A LOT.

Posted by: Dr Spank at May 22, 2024 04:57 PM (JzJvm)

110 >>>>>How could they be bad? Every southerner I met always wants to bless my heart
Posted by: The Unvaxed and Unmasked Ranger - Esteemed Trump-Ho and Searcher of Wagshambas at May 22, 2024 04:54 PM (VTu1l)
**********
That’s funny and with all humor there has to be some truth in it. Tip of the cap to ya.

Posted by: Crusader Rabbit at May 22, 2024 04:58 PM (Jpaxf)

111 108 The trial is in recess until next Tuesday. Final arguments on Tuesday. Merchan addresses the jury on Wednesday and tells them how they can vote guilty with a clear conscience.

Is it normal to break for a week like this before the jury goes out?

Posted by: Biergood at May 22, 2024 04:57 PM (PwgSL)

Why not go over the facts of the trial while the iron is hot? Oh, gotta have time for the jurors to be threatened...Got it.

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at May 22, 2024 04:58 PM (ynpvh)

112 "Anyone on Twitter(X) notice a lot of anti-Trump posts suddenly in their timeline?"

I only follow Fox News, so all the time.

Posted by: Ribbed at May 22, 2024 04:58 PM (Ectld)

113 He's been promised lots and lots of $$ - all as the darling of the left - a book, MSNBC regular legal gig, press editorials...he's cashing in, you see...he doesn't care that NYS judicial system is going to have to reign him in and remove him in order to recover any semblance of a reputation in order to retain businesses or keep their high net worth NY citizens...it's all part of the plan!
Posted by: Boswell

Might be his motivation but the nation as a whole is on a short fuse---Stan loves to dangle pretty baubles in front of his human servants but usually ends up breaking and humiliating his minor servants just because.

Posted by: whig at May 22, 2024 04:58 PM (PkS4e)

114 And bring in the skating vicar.
Posted by: Axeman at May 22, 2024 04:54 PM (krQz2)

What is a skating vicar?
Posted by: FenelonSpoke at May 22, 2024 04:56 PM (XkYcA)
---
It's the end of a Monty Python sketch.

The judge dispenses with courtly behavior and plays a small game of "Simon Says" becoming an explicit despot ("Stand up! Sit down!") and then the demands become more surreal.

Posted by: Axeman at May 22, 2024 04:58 PM (krQz2)

115 As Dan Bongino says, this case is now a Lose/Lose for democrats... it was so bad, so biased, that even if they win, they lose. Only the true believers will care.

Posted by: realityman at May 22, 2024 04:58 PM (/97hh)

116 @amuse

LAWFARE: Will there be any Republican Lawyers Left to Ensure Election Integrity in November?

Democrats have aggressively targeted over 400 Republican lawyers and politicians with criminal charges, civil lawsuits, and disbarment proceedings ahead of the upcoming presidential election.

tinyurl.com/3247nc6a

Posted by: redridinghood at May 22, 2024 04:58 PM (NpAcC)

117 110 >>>>>How could they be bad? Every southerner I met always wants to bless my heart
Posted by: The Unvaxed and Unmasked Ranger - Esteemed Trump-Ho and Searcher of Wagshambas at May 22, 2024 04:54 PM (VTu1l)
**********
That’s funny and with all humor there has to be some truth in it. Tip of the cap to ya.

Posted by: Crusader Rabbit at May 22, 2024 04:58 PM (Jpaxf)

Indeed.
You wouldn't want Aztecs blessing your heart.

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at May 22, 2024 04:59 PM (ynpvh)

118 Is it normal to break for a week like this before the jury goes out?
Posted by: Biergood
=======
No, not in a major criminal trial. But keeps gag order in place, etc.

Posted by: whig at May 22, 2024 04:59 PM (PkS4e)

119 It would have punished the defendant for something a witness was accused of doing.

--------------

Forget it, Dersh ... it's CalvinLaw.

But you'll still vote for DogEater, Hillary, & F. Joe Mugabe again amirite? [Well, maybe not the latter owing to his openly shitting on Israel (but Kamala or Newsom in his stead) -- because DogEater & Hillary at least that's a good sense to covertly shit on Israel).]

Posted by: ShainS -- Future Secretary of Retribution candidate at May 22, 2024 04:59 PM (UBces)

120 If "Biden" gets a second term and nominates Merchan to the federal bench, basically every Republican senator will vote to confirm him. We need to be serious about where we are now.

Posted by: Trump poisoned my cat at May 22, 2024 05:00 PM (KSNKu)

121 I don't understand the strategy of Trump's team playing by the rules.

If the game is rigged, you cheat-- you don't follow the rules.

Worse: The conviction is guaranteed. The one and only way Trump wins is a mistrial that pushes this past the election.
So bring the witness the judge barred, have him testify, let the defense object, tell the jury the defense only objects to hide facts from them, that the judges is helping them hide facts--piss the judge off so much right in front of the jury, that he can't help himself and calls a mistrial.

Take the sanctions, the admonishment--but you still won by scuttling the trial.

Posted by: People's Hippo Voice at May 22, 2024 05:00 PM (g9W3m)

122 "Now don't be a Judge Merchan"

Posted by: SMOD at May 22, 2024 05:01 PM (RHGPo)

123 "Convicted of a crime they can't identify."
---
In a world...

Posted by: Movie Promo Guy at May 22, 2024 05:01 PM (krQz2)

124 116 @amuse

LAWFARE: Will there be any Republican Lawyers Left to Ensure Election Integrity in November?

Democrats have aggressively targeted over 400 Republican lawyers and politicians with criminal charges, civil lawsuits, and disbarment proceedings ahead of the upcoming presidential election.

tinyurl.com/3247nc6a

Posted by: redridinghood at May 22, 2024 04:58 PM (NpAcC)

It's bankrupted some of them too. The disbarrment trial in Kali of (forget his name, legal scholar) was a sham, where he was NOT allowed to bring in other witnesses who said his legal positions made to Trump were not outside legal norms. But I guess being biased and on the take is normal for judges in disbarrments...

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at May 22, 2024 05:01 PM (ynpvh)

125 One of these days, Derschowitz et al. will understand that this trial (and all the others) are illegitimate and designed not explicitly for a conviction (but they'd like one if they can sneak it in) but a conspiracy of political hit jobs to smear Trump just enough to keep Biden competitive (or even drag him to reelection). Process is punishment. Get that "convicted" label on Trump BEFORE THE ELECTION AT ALL COSTS AND DAN THE TORPEDOES FULL STEAM AHEAD.

Oh, Trump will be vindicated on appeal? BFD, the damage is done now and forever.

Alas, even the most highly credentialed (and some even educated) retain a mammoth blindspot. Or they're just interminably stupid.

Posted by: AnonybotymousDrivel at May 22, 2024 05:01 PM (aXxgO)

126 All institutions are corrupted. We are not voting our way out. Prepare accordingly.

Posted by: Puddleglum, cheer up for the worst is yet to come at May 22, 2024 05:01 PM (sAmhv)

127 DAMN THE TORPEDOES, TOO, AFTER DANNING.

Posted by: AnonybotymousDrivel at May 22, 2024 05:02 PM (aXxgO)

128 122 "Now don't be a Judge Merchan"

Posted by: SMOD at May 22, 2024 05:01 PM (RHGPo)

"Hey man, don't try Merchanning me!"

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at May 22, 2024 05:02 PM (ynpvh)

129 The disbarrment trial in Kali of (forget his name, legal scholar) was a sham, where he was NOT allowed to bring in other witnesses who said his legal positions made to Trump were not outside legal norms.

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at May 22, 2024 05:01 PM (ynpvh)
---
Whataboutism!

Posted by: Stupid People at May 22, 2024 05:03 PM (krQz2)

130 As I've mentioned before: Even though Merchan made illegal donations to Biden and the Democrats -- I guess judges aren't allowed to do that in NY -- he was "hand-picked" to oversee the Trump Lynching Party.

It's a tax!

Posted by: SCJ John Roberts after being reminded about his Epstein Island pictures at May 22, 2024 05:03 PM (ibTVg)

131 92 Merchan says that only he gets to tell the jury what the law is -- even when he misstates it, or schemes with the Soros DAs to falsely imply that there are proven campaign finance abuses here.
---
On with the pixie hats.

And bring in the skating vicar.
Posted by: Axeman
----------------
The problem with Merchan asserting that is that he is opening the door to the federal courts under the federal question doctrine. Any interpretation of federal law by a state court judge is subject to review by federal courts.

He makes Judge Ito look distinguished in the burning clown show of the OJ trial.

Posted by: whig at May 22, 2024 05:03 PM (PkS4e)

132 115 As Dan Bongino says, this case is now a Lose/Lose for democrats... it was so bad, so biased, that even if they win, they lose. Only the true believers will care.
Posted by: realityman at May 22, 2024 04:58 PM (/97hh)

Somewhat. At least he didn't go the mentally retarded Schlichter/Reynolds route about "they won't like the new rules when they are done to them!" Shaking in their boots, they are.

Posted by: Trump poisoned my cat at May 22, 2024 05:03 PM (KSNKu)

133 Posted by: Axeman at May 22, 2024 04:58 PM (krQz2)

Thanks; I haven't seen that one.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at May 22, 2024 05:04 PM (XkYcA)

134 Why not go over the facts of the trial while the iron is hot? Oh, gotta have time for the jurors to be threatened...Got it.
Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia)
________

If by some miracle there's a hung jury, we'll start seeing stories that Trump hired Fat Tony to pay a visit.

Posted by: Biff Pocoroba at May 22, 2024 05:04 PM (Dm8we)

135 Democrats have aggressively targeted over 400 Republican lawyers and politicians with criminal charges, civil lawsuits, and disbarment proceedings ahead of the upcoming presidential election.

And red state DAs/AGs respond in kind? Oh wait MUH PRINCIPLES!

Posted by: 18-1 at May 22, 2024 05:04 PM (ibTVg)

136 130 As I've mentioned before: Even though Merchan made illegal donations to Biden and the Democrats -- I guess judges aren't allowed to do that in NY -- he was "hand-picked" to oversee the Trump Lynching Party.

It's a tax!
Posted by: SCJ John Roberts
=======
Judicial code of conduct violation and Merchan is racking them up--not that he cares. Stefanik filed an ethics complaint against Merchan the other day. More will come out.

Posted by: whig at May 22, 2024 05:04 PM (PkS4e)

137 Might be his motivation but the nation as a whole is on a short fuse---Stan loves to dangle pretty baubles in front of his human servants but usually ends up breaking and humiliating his minor servants just because.
Posted by: whig at May 22, 2024 04:58 PM (PkS4e)

I'm reminded of the paraphrase from the 'Man for All Season' quote by Sir Thomas More to Sir Rich - "To give one's soul for the world profits no man, but for...MSNBC?"

I think that is the low-level issue involved with Merchan here - he's cashing in on his ten seconds of infamy...

Posted by: Boswell at May 22, 2024 05:05 PM (K+UlC)

138 96 Merchan's bias is so grossly over the top it almost seems he's deliberately discrediting the Demoncrats.
Posted by: Northernlurker at May 22, 2024 04:49 PM (JLq/1)

He's been promised lots and lots of $$ - all as the darling of the left - a book, MSNBC regular legal gig, press editorials...he's cashing in, you see...he doesn't care that NYS judicial system is going to have to reign him in and remove him in order to recover any semblance of a reputation in order to retain businesses or keep their high net worth NY citizens...it's all part of the plan!

Posted by: Boswell at May 22, 2024 04:54 PM (K+UlC)

Right now he may prefer more power over other peoples' lives instead of a max cash-in. He knows if he gets Trump convicted, higher elected or appointed office In NY State, and/or in a second Biden term, is a sure thing.

Posted by: Gref at May 22, 2024 05:05 PM (5fDan)

139 But that's a fatal flaw of Trump: He knows the game is rigged, he knows that they are cheating.

But, after all this, the impeachment, the sham trials-- he still plays the idiot who trusts the system.

And I've said it before: He's not going to win in November unless he's willing to bend every campaign law up to and just past breaking.

Posted by: People's Hippo Voice at May 22, 2024 05:05 PM (g9W3m)

140 1/2 the country are true believing Marxists, the schools have been pumping out Marxists for decades

Posted by: Skip at May 22, 2024 05:06 PM (fwDg9)

141 Judicial code of conduct violation and Merchan is racking them up--not that he cares. Stefanik filed an ethics complaint against Merchan the other day. More will come out.
Posted by: whig at May 22, 2024 05:04 PM (PkS4e)
---
With Democrats in power, more and more things resemble the Pirates' Code.

NO ONE is above the laws when they choose to enforce them!

Posted by: Axeman at May 22, 2024 05:06 PM (krQz2)

142 Who is more punchable Angel Hernandez, umpire, or "judge" Merchan? discuss

Posted by: Disgusted at May 22, 2024 05:06 PM (Z8Yh2)

143 It's bankrupted some of them too. The disbarrment trial in Kali of (forget his name, legal scholar) was a sham, where he was NOT allowed to bring in other witnesses who said his legal positions made to Trump were not outside legal norms. But I guess being biased and on the take is normal for judges in disbarrments...
Posted by: jim

John Eastman. Disbarment is on appeal I think but the process is the punishment in some ways. Rudy has been hit even worse.

Posted by: whig at May 22, 2024 05:06 PM (PkS4e)

144 Merchan(t) whoring out Lady Justice for Pedo Joe

Posted by: Ben Dover, JD, LLM at May 22, 2024 05:06 PM (FxINA)

145 Julia @Jules31415
Alina Habba: "Judge Merchan...has somehow randomly selected had Steve Bannon's case, had Allen Weisselberg's case...somehow, he randomly also gets Donald Trump. That's not the way the system works. You assign a case randomly...but in the new America, under the Biden Regime, we are sitting here in a politicization of all our judicial systems."

https://tinyurl.com/4xrw82k3
1:03 minutes

Posted by: andycanuck (ZdexC) at May 22, 2024 05:06 PM (ZdexC)

146 140 1/2 the country are true believing Marxists, the schools have been pumping out Marxists for decades

Posted by: Skip at May 22, 2024 05:06 PM (fwDg9)

Grouch Marx >>> Karl Marx

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at May 22, 2024 05:06 PM (ynpvh)

147 Nearly 40? I think you can safely go right ahead and name the number, Alan. We can handle numbers as large as 39 or 38 without having to round to the nearest ten.

HAH!

I have tried cases before juries in nearly three states.

Thank you. Thank you very much.

Posted by: Cicero (@cicero43) at May 22, 2024 05:07 PM (nOjd9)

148 "But when the defense's only substantive witness, the experienced attorney Robert Costello, raised his eyebrows at one of New York Supreme Court Justice Juan Merchan's rulings, the court went berserk."

Yes. IT WAS PERFORMATIVE, the equivalent of an attorney banging the table because the State's got nothing! The point was to blow up at the perfect defense witness in front of the jury to purposefully taint him and rehabilitate the prosecution at the final stage before the jury debates.

This isn't rocket surgery.

Posted by: AnonybotymousDrivel at May 22, 2024 05:07 PM (aXxgO)

149 Nikki Haley says she will vote for Trump.

Posted by: Bertram Cabot, Jr. at May 22, 2024 05:08 PM (63Dwl)

150 Are you staring me down right now?

YES .. I always stare down judges dumber than dirt

Posted by: SMOD at May 22, 2024 05:08 PM (RHGPo)

151 143 It's bankrupted some of them too. The disbarrment trial in Kali of (forget his name, legal scholar) was a sham, where he was NOT allowed to bring in other witnesses who said his legal positions made to Trump were not outside legal norms. But I guess being biased and on the take is normal for judges in disbarrments...
Posted by: jim

John Eastman. Disbarment is on appeal I think but the process is the punishment in some ways. Rudy has been hit even worse.

Posted by: whig at May 22, 2024 05:06 PM (PkS4e)

Examples to everybody else of what happens when you go against the Deep State. The (Sham) Trials will continue until morale improves.

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at May 22, 2024 05:08 PM (ynpvh)

152 @amuse @amuse 2h
LAWFARE: AOC admits the Democrat’s Lawfare against Trump is like an electronic ankle monitor limiting his ability to campaign. Shhh AOC you’re not supposed to admit that part.

Steve Cortes @CortesSteve 3h
🚨Wow. @AOC accidentally says the quiet part out loud. She mocks President Trump for holding a rally in the South Bronx and brags about how the Democrats’ lawfare is forcing him to stay in New York City:

“By the way, Trump’s doing it in the South Bronx not to make a point but because he’s got court. And the man practically has the legal version of an ankle bracelet around him, and he can’t leave the 5 boroughs because he always has to be in court. So it is truly an embarrassment to him. And I am looking forward to the response of everyday Bronxites talking about how they feel about him coming to their backyard.”

Posted by: andycanuck (ZdexC) at May 22, 2024 05:08 PM (ZdexC)

153 A conviction in this case will be overturned by a thousand points of law.

Asshole judge should not only be disbarred, sanctioned, and imprisoned -- but executed pour encourager les autres.

Posted by: ShainS -- Future Secretary of Retribution candidate at May 22, 2024 05:09 PM (UBces)

154 Maybe they can talk about AOC killing their jobs.

Posted by: Ribbed at May 22, 2024 05:09 PM (IHRQq)

155
Dersh will vote for Biden all the same.

Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at May 22, 2024 05:09 PM (MoZTd)

156 139 But that's a fatal flaw of Trump: He knows the game is rigged, he knows that they are cheating.

But, after all this, the impeachment, the sham trials-- he still plays the idiot who trusts the system.

And I've said it before: He's not going to win in November unless he's willing to bend every campaign law up to and just past breaking.
Posted by: People's Hippo Voice
---------
Trump with his past history has never been one I would compare with Cromwell or Franco among others. Don't think he wants to be the cause of a new civil war but it might happen anyway depending on what happens in the next several months. Fanatics, once they start down that road, pretty much force the issue and can drag even the reluctant portions of the Deep State with them.

Posted by: whig at May 22, 2024 05:10 PM (PkS4e)

157 I guarantee you all I hated Angel Hernandez long before it was cool.

Posted by: ... at May 22, 2024 05:10 PM (lX8VI)

158 Insurrection Barbie @DefiyantlyFree
Trump lawyer Christina Bobb says when she switched to being counsel for Trump as it relates to election integrity she has had US Marshalls show up at her house, the FBI, she was interrogated by Biden’s DOJ twice and now she is facing up to 50 years in prison for helping to bring election challenges in Arizona.

By a DA that “won” her race by 207 votes with 9,000 votes left they refuse to count.

This is what the gestapo look like. The best way to show people just how “legitimate” the 2020 election was is to intimidate, harass and try to imprison lawyers who filed legal challenges about its legitimacy.

This is America. This is happening in America. Are people getting where we are?

https://tinyurl.com/yuhs93sv
42 seconds

Posted by: andycanuck (ZdexC) at May 22, 2024 05:10 PM (ZdexC)

159
They want to give a Trump a "fair trial" and hang him.

No necessarily in that order.

Posted by: Frank Barone at May 22, 2024 05:10 PM (+oR7L)

160 You know there's some leftist judge group chat where they congratulate each other on taking down the big bad monsters.

Posted by: AlaBAMA at May 22, 2024 05:11 PM (3CVIc)

161 Democrats have spent millions of taxpayer dollars going after Trump. Meanwhile criminals roam free. There is no justice system in NY. Only a bunch of political operatives posing as judges, and subverting the system for political advantage.

Never in the history of our country have we seen a judiciary as corrupt as New York's. They have ignored the SCOTUS ruling on Bruen, subverted the state constitution and the will of the people on gerrymandering, and have continued to bless every bit of misconduct including this kangaroo court.

Sorry, NY gets what it deserves and I hope they continue to get it good and hard. They also better not come to my neck of the woods and get in trouble. They'll get the same kind of "justice" they're giving.

Posted by: Vengeance at May 22, 2024 05:11 PM (Kn0v/)

162 for some reason I am reminded of Roland Freisler, but of course that would be lese mageste against the court.

Posted by: Kindltot at May 22, 2024 05:11 PM (D7oie)

163 What would they do to Trump if he really DID color outside the lines.

Posted by: ... at May 22, 2024 05:11 PM (lX8VI)

164 Is Bronxite anything like Bauxite?

Posted by: Bertram Cabot, Jr. at May 22, 2024 05:11 PM (63Dwl)

165
Judge: "You are extremely offensive, young man!"

F. E. Smith: "As a matter of fact we both are; and the only difference between us is that I am trying to be, and you can't help it."

Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at May 22, 2024 05:12 PM (MoZTd)

166 Merchan: "Are you staring me down!"

Me: No, your honor, I'm often dumbstruck by new levels of incompetence.

Posted by: Axeman at May 22, 2024 05:12 PM (krQz2)

167 Julia @Jules31415
Alina Habba: "Judge Merchan...has somehow randomly selected had Steve Bannon's case, had Allen Weisselberg's case...somehow, he randomly also gets Donald Trump. That's not the way the system works. You assign a case randomly...but in the new America, under the Biden Regime, we are sitting here in a politicization of all our judicial systems."

https://tinyurl.com/4xrw82k3
1:03 minutes
Posted by: andycanuck
__________

But Turley is saying he was not randomly selected. Was he assigned by some method other than random selection or not?

I'm asking solely about the process that the clerk or office of the courts says was used here. I understand that whether it was actually used is another matter.

Posted by: Biff Pocoroba at May 22, 2024 05:12 PM (Dm8we)

168 Will we be surprised when the antifa/blm/Jew-hater mobs start killing people in broad daylight? I'm sure some will, even when they happen to be the people being killed.

Posted by: Eromero at May 22, 2024 05:12 PM (NxC5+)

169 And any time Trump says anything that implies he's going to do something controversial or risky or unexpected, at least half our side cries and moans that he's an idiot who doesn't understand THE RULES.

Posted by: ... at May 22, 2024 05:13 PM (lX8VI)

170 udicial code of conduct violation and Merchan is racking them up--not that he cares. Stefanik filed an ethics complaint against Merchan the other day. More will come out.
Posted by: whig at May 22, 2024 05:04 PM (PkS4e)
---

Merchan will be benched removed under behavior/conduct not authorized for lower court procedures as described in the NYS Judicial Code of Conduct and as reviewed by the Judicial Conduct Review Board - that is going to happen...he knows it - he doesn't care at this point. He's going get $$ for his resistance to normal judicial procedures - you would NEVER do what he's done as a jurist, in the public eye, if you didn't think this is what was going to happen...

Posted by: Boswell at May 22, 2024 05:13 PM (K+UlC)

171 They want to give a Trump a "fair trial" and hang him.

No necessarily in that order.
Posted by: Frank Barone at May 22, 2024 05:10 PM (+oR7L)
---
And that's how they'll know it was a fair trial: Trump is hanged.

Posted by: Axeman at May 22, 2024 05:14 PM (krQz2)

172 As a GenX kid, I'm painfully aware of the punishment for a raised eyebrow to a parent.

Posted by: AlaBAMA at May 22, 2024 05:14 PM (3CVIc)

173 >Somewhat. At least he didn't go the mentally retarded Schlichter/Reynolds route about "they won't like the new rules when they are done to them!" Shaking in their boots, they are.

People who talk about the pendulum swinging back have never been mean to anyone, and talk as if they have. It is the huge number of frogs that make the small number of scorpions a problem.

Posted by: BourbonChicken at May 22, 2024 05:14 PM (cf/0E)

174 166 Merchan: "Are you staring me down!"

Me: No, your honor, I'm often dumbstruck by new levels of incompetence.

Posted by: Axeman at May 22, 2024 05:12 PM (krQz2)

"How can I? You're sitting up there and I'm sitting down here."

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at May 22, 2024 05:14 PM (ynpvh)

175
This trial is a starting point for Judge Merchan's future congressional campaign.

Posted by: Frank Barone at May 22, 2024 05:14 PM (+oR7L)

176 Did you just Spock me? Did you Spock me, sir?!?

Posted by: AlaBAMA at May 22, 2024 05:15 PM (3CVIc)

177 Is Dersh as great a lawyer as his accolades suggest, or is he just really really good at getting his face on TV?

Posted by: gp Abides at May 22, 2024 05:15 PM (MvF+J)

178 Alina Habba: "Judge Merchan...has somehow randomly selected had Steve Bannon's case, had Allen Weisselberg's case...somehow, he randomly also gets Donald Trump. That's not the way the system works. You assign a case randomly...but in the new America, under the Biden Regime, we are sitting here in a politicization of all our judicial systems."

---
It's just the luck of the bid.

Posted by: Axeman at May 22, 2024 05:15 PM (krQz2)

179 That Merchan fuck looks like he enjoys smoking cock.

Posted by: Angzarr the Cromulent at May 22, 2024 05:16 PM (XMwZJ)

180 1/2 the country are true believing Marxists, the schools have been pumping out Marxists for decades
Posted by: Skip at May 22, 2024 05:06 PM (fwDg9)

The historian and author Rainier Zitemann recently said in an interview that you can find more anti-american communists per capita in American university campuses than in Vietnamese university campuses.

Posted by: Kindltot at May 22, 2024 05:16 PM (D7oie)

181
Merchan: "Are you staring me down?"

Costello: "I don't know. Is Your Honor down?"

Posted by: Blonde Morticia's office at May 22, 2024 05:16 PM (I87yH)

182 The judge has repeatedly allowed Michael Cohen to testify that he pleaded guilty to campaign finance charges, insinuating that those are the actions under dispute in this trial.

The defense wanted to bring in a witness to explain that those charges have nothing to do with this trial.

As a matter of legalities, a witness is not the tool to use to inform a jury of the distinction between the case Cohen pleaded guilty in and the present case.

That said, if the inference could be drawn by the jury that Cohen had already been found guilty in Trump's case, then it was most definitely the obligation of the judge to disclose in open court that the Cohen case was not the Trump case, and to admonish the jury that Cohen's guilty plea had absolutely nothing to do with Trump's guilt or innocence.

Posted by: Cicero (@cicero43) at May 22, 2024 05:17 PM (nOjd9)

183 Examples to everybody else of what happens when you go against the Deep State. The (Sham) Trials will continue until morale improves.
Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia)

What the fanatics and ignorant Deep State factions don't realize is they are playing a losing hand---sooner or later it comes down to the irresistible force trying to move an unmovable object.

Since 2016, what the Deep State has done resembles a coup more than a revolution and even in the places where the CIA did their color thing---those regimes are dying one by one because the CIA cannot force a form of government on a people without their consent. All you do is increase the number of pissed off opponents over time as you ramp up the idiocy. So people go around, under, above, and through the facade of the regimes created.

As uncomfortable as it might be to us, politics is downstream from culture and any attempt to transplant a political regime and impose culture from above in any society including the US will fail. The only question is how long it will last and how many people that it will cause to be killed.

Posted by: whig at May 22, 2024 05:17 PM (PkS4e)

184 Merchan: "Are you staring me down!"

Me: No, I see the doors of heaven open, and angels ascending and descending on the son of man.

Posted by: TexasDan at May 22, 2024 05:17 PM (z/ifB)

185 182 The judge has repeatedly allowed Michael Cohen to testify that he pleaded guilty to campaign finance charges, insinuating that those are the actions under dispute in this trial.

The defense wanted to bring in a witness to explain that those charges have nothing to do with this trial.

As a matter of legalities, a witness is not the tool to use to inform a jury of the distinction between the case Cohen pleaded guilty in and the present case.

That said, if the inference could be drawn by the jury that Cohen had already been found guilty in Trump's case, then it was most definitely the obligation of the judge to disclose in open court that the Cohen case was not the Trump case, and to admonish the jury that Cohen's guilty plea had absolutely nothing to do with Trump's guilt or innocence.

Posted by: Cicero (@cicero43) at May 22, 2024 05:17 PM (nOjd9)

Even an Expert witness?

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at May 22, 2024 05:18 PM (ynpvh)

186 This trial is a starting point for Judge Merchan's future congressional campaign.
Posted by: Frank Barone at May 22, 2024 05:14 PM (+oR7L)

Then the joke's on him. The role of House TDS Asshole is occupied by Adam Schiff and will be for the for the foreseeable future.

Posted by: Cicero (@cicero43) at May 22, 2024 05:19 PM (nOjd9)

187 Why can't Trump hire anyone who isn't crazy or going to stab him in the back? It's a huge mystery!!!!

Posted by: ... at May 22, 2024 05:19 PM (lX8VI)

188 Fani Willis breezed to a win last night in her election. There are no consequences for any of them.

Posted by: Montec at May 22, 2024 05:19 PM (tpjlM)

189 Anyone know if in NY Supreme Courts the jury instructions can be made public after the jury goes into its deliberation?

Posted by: Gref at May 22, 2024 05:20 PM (5fDan)

190 Don't give the NY appellate courts any credibility. They had numerous chances to stop this circus and demurred. They're in on it and Merchan is their useful idiots. Every level of the judiciary in NY is corrupt. They don't care. Nobody puts any checks on them and the governor is a buffoonish dunce.

Posted by: Vengeance at May 22, 2024 05:20 PM (Kn0v/)

191 it was most definitely the obligation of the judge to disclose in open court that the Cohen case was not the Trump case, and to admonish the jury that Cohen's guilty plea had absolutely nothing to do with Trump's guilt or innocence.
Posted by: Cicero (@cicero43) at May 22, 2024 05:17 PM (nOjd9)
---
Especially since the Prosecution has yet to show that Trump was made aware of the payoff.

The best Cohen could do is to say he mentioned it during a ~90-second call to Trump's security where Trump's guys mostly remember him whining about being prank-called by a 14-year-old.

Talks about thin.

Posted by: Axeman at May 22, 2024 05:20 PM (krQz2)

192 187 Why can't Trump hire anyone who isn't crazy or going to stab him in the back? It's a huge mystery!!!!

Posted by: ... at May 22, 2024 05:19 PM (lX8VI)

He doesn't pay them as much as the bribes and extortion and threats cover.

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at May 22, 2024 05:20 PM (ynpvh)

193 The historian and author Rainier Zitemann recently said in an interview that you can find more anti-american communists per capita in American university campuses than in Vietnamese university campuses.
Posted by: Kindltot
=======
Communism is a parasitical form of government that enslaves the proles for the benefit of the pampered poofs that wanna be aristos. Tempting for bitter assholes that envy and hate the happy people in the society around them so they try to tear it down to put themselves on top.

Posted by: whig at May 22, 2024 05:20 PM (PkS4e)

194 "In the days when the judges ruled, that there was a famine in the land."

-- Book of Ruth

Posted by: ShainS -- Future Secretary of Retribution candidate at May 22, 2024 05:21 PM (D3EQw)

195 Why can't Trump hire anyone who isn't crazy or going to stab him in the back? It's a huge mystery!!!!

Posted by: ... at May 22, 2024 05:19 PM (lX8VI)
---
It must be Trump.

Posted by: Axeman at May 22, 2024 05:21 PM (krQz2)

196 Fani Willis breezed to a win last night in her election. There are no consequences for any of them.
Posted by: Montec at May 22, 2024 05:19 PM (tpjlM)

Fulton County 1200 votes...come on. Did you envision another result for the Dems there?

Posted by: Boswell at May 22, 2024 05:21 PM (K+UlC)

197 188 Fani Willis breezed to a win last night in her election. There are no consequences for any of them.

Posted by: Montec at May 22, 2024 05:19 PM (tpjlM)

"Fani Willis? I dun recog-nizze that name! I'll vote for him!"--LIV

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at May 22, 2024 05:21 PM (ynpvh)

198 Why can't Trump hire anyone who isn't crazy or going to stab him in the back? It's a huge mystery!!!!
Posted by: ... at May 22, 2024 05:19 PM (lX8VI)

Dude he’s playing 26-d chess and has a game plan to turn all this into a positive .

Posted by: Montec at May 22, 2024 05:21 PM (tpjlM)

199 Judges normally have absolute immunity.

But this case is so egregious, I think a very strong argument for piercing that shield is possible.

The Judge has no fear that he will be sued or convicted of a civil rights violation.

He can be disbarred or sanctioned by the NY Judicial Ethics Commitee, but I doubt the NY progressives will actually do that.

It’s really so sad that our Judicial System has fallen so far, so fast.

And it will keep happening as long as partisan judges are elected and appointed.

Posted by: Czech Chick at May 22, 2024 05:22 PM (I6NNh)

200 In: Skanky whore past her sell date to add a bit of sleaze to an already sleazy case.

Out: Anyone of substance who can speak directly about the actual law in this case.

In: Are you eyeballin'' me boy!??

Out: Look at me when I'm talking to you boy!

Posted by: Cheri at May 22, 2024 05:22 PM (oiNtH)

201 Fani Willis breezed to a win last night in her election. There are no consequences for any of them.
Posted by: Montec at May 22, 2024 05:19 PM (tpjlM)
Fulton County 1200 votes...come on. Did you envision another result for the Dems there?
Posted by: Boswell at May 22, 2024 05:21 PM (K+UlC)

Fanny, be tender with my love
'Cause it's all that I've got
And my love won't desert me
Be tender with my love
You know how easy it is to hurt me
Fanny, be tender with my love...

Posted by: Hairyback Guy at May 22, 2024 05:22 PM (R/m4+)

202 198 Why can't Trump hire anyone who isn't crazy or going to stab him in the back? It's a huge mystery!!!!
Posted by: ... at May 22, 2024 05:19 PM (lX8VI)

Dude he’s playing 26-d chess and has a game plan to turn all this into a positive .

Posted by: Montec at May 22, 2024 05:21 PM (tpjlM)

::: puts on his 26-D glasses, sees nuthin' :::

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at May 22, 2024 05:23 PM (ynpvh)

203 Since 2016, what the Deep State has done resembles a coup more than a revolution and even in the places where the CIA did their color thing---those regimes are dying one by one because the CIA cannot force a form of government on a people without their consent. All you do is increase the number of pissed off opponents over time as you ramp up the idiocy. So people go around, under, above, and through the facade of the regimes created.

Whig, I am minded of the assassination of Diem which solved nothing. seizing the top spots is relatively easy, it is dealing with the elements that want things to go on as they were is what is hard.
It can be done, the Soviets almost made it a century, but the basic difference between a dictatorship and a franchise democracy is the number of people you have to keep happy. That is more of a societal thing than not.

Posted by: Kindltot at May 22, 2024 05:23 PM (D7oie)

204 Even an Expert witness?
Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at May 22, 2024 05:18 PM (ynpvh)

I've seen attorneys try to put on lawyers as expert witnesses on some legal point. It doesn't work out well, since the judge is supposed to be the expert in the law.

Posted by: Cicero (@cicero43) at May 22, 2024 05:24 PM (nOjd9)

205 Fulton County 1200 votes...come on. Did you envision another result for the Dems there?
Posted by: Boswell at May 22, 2024 05:21 PM (K+UlC)

Of course not. That’s my point. There are no consequences for any of them and they know it.

Posted by: Montec at May 22, 2024 05:24 PM (tpjlM)

206 And it will keep happening as long as partisan judges are elected and appointed.
Posted by: Czech Chick at May 22, 2024 05:22 PM (I6NNh)

You should see some of the beauts that Obama appointed to the federal bench.

Posted by: Cicero (@cicero43) at May 22, 2024 05:25 PM (nOjd9)

207 204 Even an Expert witness?
Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at May 22, 2024 05:18 PM (ynpvh)

I've seen attorneys try to put on lawyers as expert witnesses on some legal point. It doesn't work out well, since the judge is supposed to be the expert in the law.

Posted by: Cicero (@cicero43) at May 22, 2024 05:24 PM (nOjd9)

Even federal law? I mean Judge Merchenary is not a Fed judge.

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at May 22, 2024 05:25 PM (ynpvh)

208 Of course not. That’s my point. There are no consequences for any of them and they know it.
Posted by: Montec at May 22, 2024 05:24 PM (tpjlM)
---
You just need a captive blue fiefdom.

Posted by: Axeman at May 22, 2024 05:25 PM (krQz2)

209 The only thing Fani Willis every breezed by was a salad bar.

Posted by: Vengeance at May 22, 2024 05:25 PM (Kn0v/)

210 Who will disbar him? The leftists running NY’s legal profession?

Posted by: Montec at May 22, 2024 05:25 PM (tpjlM)

211 Anyone hear think he won’t be convicted?? Anyone here foresee jail time??

Posted by: tubal at May 22, 2024 05:26 PM (PCK5/)

212 206 And it will keep happening as long as partisan judges are elected and appointed.
Posted by: Czech Chick at May 22, 2024 05:22 PM (I6NNh)

You should see some of the beauts that Obama appointed to the federal bench.

Posted by: Cicero (@cicero43) at May 22, 2024 05:25 PM (nOjd9)

SCOTUS as well...
Aren't you glad Merrick "The Elephant Man" Garland wasn't one of them?

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at May 22, 2024 05:26 PM (ynpvh)

213 We can handle numbers as large as 39 or 38 without having to round to the nearest ten.

Dude, most of us can’t count past 29.

Posted by: Kratwurst at May 22, 2024 05:26 PM (nIRE6)

214 Anyone hear think he won’t be convicted?? Anyone here foresee jail time??
Posted by: tubal at May 22, 2024 05:26 PM (PCK5/)
---
It's always been a coinflip to me whether Trump will do time.

Time will tell.

Posted by: Axeman at May 22, 2024 05:27 PM (krQz2)

215 213 We can handle numbers as large as 39 or 38 without having to round to the nearest ten.

Dude, most of us can’t count past 29.

Posted by: Kratwurst at May 22, 2024 05:26 PM (nIRE6)

Well, to be honest, we guys have a one-up.

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at May 22, 2024 05:27 PM (ynpvh)

216 I don't think people truly realize how much money there is to be had in hiring people to stop threats like Trump, or to what lengths the feds will go in constructing fake legal woes for those that don't play the game.

Posted by: Thomas Paine at May 22, 2024 05:27 PM (lTGtQ)

217 216 I don't think people truly realize how much money there is to be had in hiring people to stop threats like Trump, or to what lengths the feds will go in constructing fake legal woes for those that don't play the game.

Posted by: Thomas Paine at May 22, 2024 05:27 PM (lTGtQ)

It's called the Federal Budget, right?

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at May 22, 2024 05:28 PM (ynpvh)

218 I hate these people so much.

Posted by: Teresa in Fort Worth, Texas - Ace of Spades Ladies Brigade, plucky comic relief at May 22, 2024 05:28 PM (SRRAx)

219 Communism is a parasitical form of government that enslaves the proles for the benefit of the pampered poofs that wanna be aristos. Tempting for bitter assholes that envy and hate the happy people in the society around them so they try to tear it down to put themselves on top.
Posted by: whig at May 22, 2024 05:20 PM (PkS4e)

It is a multi level marketing scheme. "do not break the chain, the last man who did wound up doing a tenner in Kolyma for crimes against the state"

Posted by: Kindltot at May 22, 2024 05:29 PM (D7oie)

220 Merchant's conduct will be inconsequential. The NY Bar is corrupt. It's just one reason why people are leaving the state. There is no justice. Just a bunch of political hacks, most of them not very smart nor schooled in the law. They don't need to be, as they've undermined just about every statute and judicial procedure. Look at what they're doing with the challenges to their Bruen response. It's pathetic and juvenile not to mention unconstitutional.

Posted by: Vengeance at May 22, 2024 05:29 PM (Kn0v/)

221 Dude, most of us can’t count past 29.
Posted by: Kratwurst at May 22, 2024 05:26 PM (nIRE6)
---
I'm not that interested in going to see the carrousel.

Posted by: Axeman at May 22, 2024 05:30 PM (krQz2)

222 219 Communism is a parasitical form of government that enslaves the proles for the benefit of the pampered poofs that wanna be aristos. Tempting for bitter assholes that envy and hate the happy people in the society around them so they try to tear it down to put themselves on top.
Posted by: whig at May 22, 2024 05:20 PM (PkS4e)

It is a multi level marketing scheme. "do not break the chain, the last man who did wound up doing a tenner in Kolyma for crimes against the state"

Posted by: Kindltot at May 22, 2024 05:29 PM (D7oie)

Hey!!!!

Posted by: Ponzi Scheme, Fonzi Schem at May 22, 2024 05:30 PM (ynpvh)

223 Whig, I am minded of the assassination of Diem which solved nothing. seizing the top spots is relatively easy, it is dealing with the elements that want things to go on as they were is what is hard.
It can be done, the Soviets almost made it a century, but the basic difference between a dictatorship and a franchise democracy is the number of people you have to keep happy. That is more of a societal thing than not.
Posted by: Kindltot
=======
It took the Soviets over ten years to consolidate their regime and that was after a relatively popular revolution spearheaded by workers and soldiers. Took something similar in Mexico after the last revolt in 1910. However, in both cases, it was the end of killing that was most popular not the revolutions per se. From what I gather about the Chinese Revolution and the Cambodian one, that is true of them as well. Both regimes though went too far after consolidation with the Khmer Rouge and the Cultural Revolution which ended the Khmer Rouge regime and damn near ended Mao when the PLA told him to end it or else.

So, the question now is how many deaths will come from the regime collapse, not whether it will collapse or not.

Posted by: whig at May 22, 2024 05:30 PM (PkS4e)

224 It's called the Federal Budget, right?

Posted by: jim

That, plus Arabella, plus the Southern Legal, plus illegal donations from overseas. People like Merchan will be multi millionaires once they play their part, and if someone doesn't, then the federal budget will be used to bankrupt them if they don't put them in prison.

Posted by: Thomas Paine at May 22, 2024 05:30 PM (lTGtQ)

225 I don't think people truly realize how much money there is to be had in hiring people to stop threats like Trump, or to what lengths the feds will go in constructing fake legal woes for those that don't play the game.

Posted by: Thomas Paine
___

"The FBI is a U.S. version of the Russian “State Police”; and the FBI is deployed -almost exclusively- to attack domestic enemies of those who control government, while they protect the interests of the U.S. Fourth Branch of Government. That is the clear and accurate domestic prism to contextualize their perceived mission: “domestic violent extremists pose the greatest threat” to their objective.

Put another way, “We The People”, who fight against government abuse and usurpation, are the FBI’s actual and literal enemy."

https://tinyurl.com/wzk5es85

Posted by: SMH at what's coming at May 22, 2024 05:30 PM (ZabZM)

226 I agree with Montec. Almost no one who isn't already decided is paying attention to the trial. They're all too busy with their sportsball and social-influencer ambitions. But they'll know Donald Trump was convicted of a crime, "murder or rape or something," and they'll go about their grubby lives until it's time to push the thing for Joe.

In a way, this is all about Taylor Swift.

Posted by: SloPitch Whiffer at May 22, 2024 05:31 PM (wzAuc)

227 Some believe that Merchan was threatened to ensure a Trump conviction. I believe that he was paid handsomely - like a retirement sum - to do what he has done. Of course neither could be true and he has a God complex and believes that he is a warrior for justice. We'll know after this shampalooza if he suddenly retires and is living like a King in Costa Rica.

Posted by: Cheri at May 22, 2024 05:31 PM (oiNtH)

228 "The FBI is a U.S. version of the Russian “State Police”; and the FBI is deployed -almost exclusively- to attack domestic enemies of those who control government

Posted by: SMH at what's coming at May 22, 2024 05:30 PM (ZabZM)
---
Many of us just thought it would be mainly criminals and foreign threats.

Posted by: Axeman at May 22, 2024 05:32 PM (krQz2)

229 I don't think people truly realize how much money there is to be had in hiring people to stop threats like Trump, or to what lengths the feds will go in constructing fake legal woes for those that don't play the game.
Posted by: Thomas Paine

So the only thing to stop it is to start shooting them and their children before they shoot us and ours?

Posted by: rickb223 at May 22, 2024 05:32 PM (ofCHO)

230 This is an outrage!!!!! After we have our afternoon tea and evening brandy, we may write a harshly worded letter to the editor about it.
- GOP

Posted by: Montec at May 22, 2024 05:32 PM (tpjlM)

231
All I hear coming out of his sham of a trial is Trumps poll numbers trickling higher. Day after day, the same result.

I'm involved with some litigation with a NY state law firm and I'm busting their shoes because NY state. Fvck em. Promise me confidentiality then demand my SS number?

S_ck my D_ck. Mystery vowels are 'u' and 'i' and this has nothing to do with a duck.

Posted by: Divide by Zero at May 22, 2024 05:32 PM (RKVpM)

232 nood

Posted by: gp Abides at May 22, 2024 05:33 PM (MvF+J)

233 There are literally billions of dollars available to pay for any number of protesters, lawyers, and agitators to take down this country. That money is also available to make former allies turn traitor. Most people can be bought - those that can't will be indicted and bankrupted.

Posted by: Thomas Paine at May 22, 2024 05:33 PM (lTGtQ)

234 We can handle numbers as large as 39 or 38 without having to round to the nearest ten. -- ace

--

We all might as well get used to being rounded up.

Posted by: SloPitch Whiffer at May 22, 2024 05:33 PM (wzAuc)

235 "In a way, this is all about Taylor Swift."

The evidence is mounting to support the theory of Taylor Entanglement.

Posted by: gp Abides at May 22, 2024 05:34 PM (MvF+J)

236 I think it’s a lot simpler than threats or payoffs. He’s a leftist. He’s doing this not because someone made him but because he wants to. Look who his daughter is, apples falling from the tree and all that.

Posted by: Montec at May 22, 2024 05:34 PM (tpjlM)

237 It is a multi level marketing scheme. "do not break the chain, the last man who did wound up doing a tenner in Kolyma for crimes against the state"

Posted by: Kindltot

Fair enough. I consider it an ecological fallacy--they equate a society with a family but regardless of what people tell themselves, you can only truly love what is within your own circle of family and close friends. A functional family will follow from each according to their abilites and to each according to their needs because of love of their children. That love and sacrifice attenuates as the relationship becomes more and more distant. Can one love a whole town population? An oblast/state? A region? A nation? The world?

It is a utopianism that does not follow the real behavior of individuals and creating new soviet man of socialism uber alles including family was always doomed to failure.

Posted by: whig at May 22, 2024 05:34 PM (PkS4e)

238 231
All I hear coming out of his sham of a trial is Trumps poll numbers trickling higher. Day after day, the same result.

I'm involved with some litigation with a NY state law firm and I'm busting their shoes because NY state. Fvck em. Promise me confidentiality then demand my SS number?

S_ck my D_ck. Mystery vowels are 'u' and 'i' and this has nothing to do with a duck.

Posted by: Divide by Zero at May 22, 2024 05:32 PM (RKVpM)

Sick my Duck?

Posted by: Ponzi Scheme, Fonzi Schem at May 22, 2024 05:35 PM (ynpvh)

239 235 "In a way, this is all about Taylor Swift."

The evidence is mounting to support the theory of Taylor Entanglement.
Posted by: gp Abides
=======
You should have to sit in the penalty box for throwing that stinker in the arena.

Posted by: whig at May 22, 2024 05:35 PM (PkS4e)

240 231
All I hear coming out of his sham of a trial is Trumps poll numbers trickling higher. Day after day, the same result.

I'm involved with some litigation with a NY state law firm and I'm busting their shoes because NY state. Fvck em. Promise me confidentiality then demand my SS number?

S_ck my D_ck. Mystery vowels are 'u' and 'i' and this has nothing to do with a duck.

Posted by: Divide by Zero at May 22, 2024 05:32 PM (RKVpM)

Oh, you said nothing to do with a duck...

Posted by: Ponzi Scheme, Fonzi Schem at May 22, 2024 05:35 PM (ynpvh)

241 So, the question now is how many deaths will come from the regime collapse, not whether it will collapse or not.
Posted by: whig at May 22, 2024 05:30 PM (PkS4e)

...

Is there any hope that our state government structures can remain semi-intact and we dissolve into individual states, or smaller re-formed unions, rather than complete disarray at all levels?

You would think that cities like NY could fairly easily transition to nation-states, except that they are disastrously run to begin with.

Posted by: TexasDan at May 22, 2024 05:37 PM (z/ifB)

242 We all might as well get used to being rounded up.

Posted by: SloPitch Whiffer

Very good.

Posted by: Cheri at May 22, 2024 05:38 PM (oiNtH)

243 From what I gather about the Chinese Revolution and the Cambodian one, that is true of them as well. Both regimes though went too far after consolidation with the Khmer Rouge and the Cultural Revolution which ended the Khmer Rouge regime and damn near ended Mao when the PLA told him to end it or else.

So, the question now is how many deaths will come from the regime collapse, not whether it will collapse or not.
Posted by: whig at May 22, 2024 05:30 PM (PkS4e)

the last two ended because the command economy was collapsing in spite of repression and no one was willing to play, everyone including the power brokers knew the end was coming and they could feel the breeze beneath their heels.
Soviet union ended the same way, first came the need to fix the shortages, then came the need to deal with the hyperinflation that the shortages were hiding, then various SSRs said they wanted out and were willing to either deal or fight. (the deal was Federation of sorts)

IIRC Allende's tenure in Chile ended in a similar way, and every time there is a revolution or coup in Argentina it is because their controlled economy craps the bed, yet again.

Posted by: Kindltot at May 22, 2024 05:38 PM (D7oie)

244 Mike Schmidt, DA in Portland, lost last night. And not by just a little bit.

Posted by: Notsothoreau at May 22, 2024 05:39 PM (yeEu9)

245 does not matter. I forgot what I was going to say. Maybe next time.

Posted by: Grandpa bullet point at May 22, 2024 05:40 PM (s9TOl)

246 239 I'll tack it on to the end of the sentence I am already serving

Posted by: gp Abides at May 22, 2024 05:41 PM (MvF+J)

247 It is a utopianism that does not follow the real behavior of individuals and creating new soviet man of socialism uber alles including family was always doomed to failure.
Posted by: whig at May 22, 2024 05:34 PM (PkS4e)

from yesterday's discussion on communal societies: my take is that Utopianism of any stripe is the fallacy of believing that human interaction and social cohesion is scaleable

Posted by: Kindltot at May 22, 2024 05:41 PM (D7oie)

248 Isn't the entire point of spending campaign money the goal of influencing an election?

Posted by: Emmie at May 22, 2024 05:43 PM (Sf2cq)

249
Mike Schmidt, DA in Portland, lost last night. And not by just a little bit.

Posted by: Notsothoreau at May 22, 2024 05:39 PM

He shoulda stuck to playing third base for the Philadelphia Phillies.

Posted by: Divide by Zero at May 22, 2024 05:43 PM (RKVpM)

250 China, Russia, Ukraine, England, France, Italy, Israel, as well as in nearly 40 of our 50 states.

**********

I've been to Mother Russia, Upper Prussia,
Mainland China, Carolina,
England, Ireland,
Greenland, Iceland
Pakistan, Izbeekistan
Murfreesbooro, Battleboro
Oklahoma, West Tacoma
Arizona, East Pamplona

I've been everywhere, Man!,

Posted by: Muldoon at May 22, 2024 05:45 PM (991eG)

251 We'll know after this shampalooza if he suddenly retires and is living like a King in Costa Rica.
Posted by: Cher

Or Guatemala, where Chief Justice Roberts' two blond haired, blue eyed adopted children came from.

Posted by: Miklos wonders how that happened at May 22, 2024 05:46 PM (wWqRd)

252 >>Merchant's conduct will be inconsequential.

No, it has not been to date...and it maybe inconsequential to Merchan in the end, he's certainly counting on that financially. He played the cards for what might profit him. And no one in NYS, those in a position that ought to know better, have thought to reign him in as of this date. They'll suffer to make him a rich man, I guess...

But it is, and will be, devastating to NY. The state voters or their idiotic citizens, may never realize it, or recognize it, or even care...but unless they course correct judicially immediately...it's the end of them as a state that will attract any future business concerns or influx of wealth...in that regard, they are about three years behind CA...but that gap is closing fast.

Posted by: Boswell at May 22, 2024 05:49 PM (K+UlC)

253 $10.00 says FJB got a choice selection of Melania's panties.

Posted by: lost in space at May 22, 2024 05:59 PM (glxRK)

254 Be right back. Have to take a Merchan.

Posted by: thatcrazyjerseyguy now with twice the crazy at May 22, 2024 06:00 PM (iODuv)

255 When you get a chance, after the trial, be sure to mail Judge Merchan a condom (he wears 'small') so his next victim won't catch what he has.

Posted by: torabora at May 22, 2024 06:31 PM (/uWNI)

256 This piece of shit, Merchan, along with Engoron both need to be prosecuted for the flagrant legal and ethical violations they have committed. Disbarment at a minimum, ass-raping with a roll of rusty barbed wire is an appropriate addition to disbarment.

Posted by: Bonecrusher at May 22, 2024 06:57 PM (6KkyI)

257 So what does the normal part of the country do when Trump is imprisoned for 136 years for nothing other than the Democrat Left wants to prevent his presidency? This is exactly what is going to happen.

Posted by: Lady in Black at May 22, 2024 07:21 PM (mupln)

258 What's up Dear, are you in fact visiting this web site daily, if
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Posted by: sex at May 22, 2024 07:49 PM (OCRfJ)

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