Judge Tanya Chutkan, the Obama appointee who is overseeing Jack Smith's Jan. 6 case against Trump in D.C., formally postponed the trial on Friday.
On Thursday, it was reported that Jack Smith, D.C.'s case against Trump, had been removed from the court's calendar. The trial date of March 4, 2024, which was scheduled before Super Tuesday, was crossed off the calendar over the past week.
Judge Chutkan, by order Friday, postponed the trial and told potential jurors who were asked to fill out a pretrial questionnaire not to appear in court next week.
JUST IN: Judge Chutkan in the Trump D.C. election case entered a formal order vacating the written jury questionnaire process and vacating the court's pretrial order, stating he would establish a new timeline “if and when the warrant is returned.” pic.twitter.com/O0t1FoLJzu
– Katie Phang (@KatiePhang) February 2, 2024
Chutkan had to postpone the trial on March 4 while the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals considers Trump's immunity claims.
Trump's lawyers argued that Trump is immune from federal prosecution for alleged “crimes” he committed while serving as president of the United States.
“In 234 years of American history, no president has ever faced criminal prosecution for his or her official actions. Until 19 days ago, no court had ever addressed whether immunity from such prosecution existed.” And to this day, no court has ever addressed It can be dealt with by any court of appeal. “This question is among the most complex, complex and serious issues that this Court will ever be called upon to decide.”
Last month, John Sawyer, Trump's Missouri-based lawyer, appeared before a three-judge panel of the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals to argue Trump's immunity claims in the Jack Smith case in D.C.
The three-judge panel is hearing oral arguments on the immunity claims: Florence Pan (Biden's nominee), Michelle Childs (Biden's nominee), and Karen Henderson (George W. Bush's nominee).
On January 9, a three-judge panel heard oral arguments and appeared skeptical of Trump's immunity claims — one judge, a Biden appointee, asked attorney John Sawyer whether Trump would be subject to criminal prosecution if he ordered SEAL Team 6 to assassinate his rivals. Politicians.
“Can a president who ordered SEAL Team 6 to assassinate a political rival, and was not impeached, be subject to criminal prosecution?” Judge Florence Pan asked one of Biden's appointees, John Sawyer.
John Sawyer, former Solicitor General of Missouri and friend Critic portalHe replied: “If he is impeached and convicted first… My answer is conditional yes, there is a political process that must take place within the structure of our Constitution which requires impeachment and conviction by the Senate in these exceptional cases…” he replied.
If the D.C. Court of Appeals rules that Trump does not have presidential immunity, Trump will likely request a hearing (a request for the court's entire roster of 11 judges to make a decision).
Of the 11 judges on the D.C. Court of Appeals, only four are conservative, so Trump will likely have to take the immunity fight to the U.S. Supreme Court.
Meanwhile in Florida….
Judge Cannon, a Trump appointee who is overseeing the Jack Smith secret documents case in Florida, will hold a hearing on March 1 to get an update on the status of the special counsel's case in D.C.
Cannon suggested that the May 20 trial date in the classified documents case be postponed if the special counsel cannot resolve Trump's immunity argument in time.
Stay tuned!
