The MeidasTouch Podcast - DC Federal Judge Issues KEY RULING on Trump Criminal Trial Date

MeidasTouch host Ben Meiselas reports on the ruling by Washington DC federal judge Tanya Chutkan confirming the stay of all proceedings before her in the Donald Trump criminal case until Trump’s appeal on absolute presidential immunity grounds is resolved. Get 10% off plus free shipping of your estate plan documents by visiting https://trustandwill.com/MeidasVisit https://meidastouch.com for more!Remember to subscribe to ALL the MeidasTouch Network Podcasts:MeidasTouch: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/meidastouch-podcastLegal AF: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/legal-afThe PoliticsGirl Podcast: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/the-politicsgirl-podcastThe Influence Continuum: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/the-influence-continuum-with-dr-steven-hassanMea Culpa with Michael Cohen: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/mea-culpa-with-michael-cohenThe Weekend Show: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/the-weekend-showBurn the Boats: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/burn-the-boatsMajority 54: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/majority-54Political Beatdown: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/political-beatdownLights On with Jessica Denson: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/lights-on-with-jessica-densonOn Democracy with FP Wellman: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/on-democracy-with-fpwellmanUncovered: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/maga-uncovered

Duration: 14m
Broadcast on: 14 Dec 2023
Audio Format: other

federal judge Tanya Chutkin has just issued an opinion and order in the criminal case against Donald Trump in Washington, D.C., where she has confirmed that all proceedings before her are now stayed. All proceedings will come to a halt. That's all pre-trial hearings, all deadlines, all discovery obligations. All of the dates, deadlines, obligations before her have now come to a halt. This, as Donald Trump has filed an appeal to the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals on Judge Tanya Chutkin's denial of Donald Trump's motion to dismiss the indictment on the grounds of absolute presidential immunity. Judge Chutkin acknowledges here that under the doctrine in the case Griggs versus provident consumer, the district court is divested. It loses jurisdiction when an appeal is filed to the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals. Specifically, the Griggs case holds that filing, a notice of appeal, is an event of jurisdictional significance. It confers jurisdiction on the court of appeals and divests removes the district court of its control over those aspects of the case involved in the appeal. Special counsel Jack Smith argued that under the Griggs doctrine, the over those aspects of the case involved in the appeal related solely and exclusively to those issues regarding Donald Trump's motion to dismiss the indictment on absolute presidential immunity grounds, which was rejected and denied in an order by federal judge Tanya Chutkin. Donald Trump argued, however, that the issue of absolute presidential immunity is all encompassing over all proceedings. And as the D.C. Circuit recently held in the blasting game case, a former president's absolute immunity would constitute quote, an entitlement not to stand trial or face the other burdens of litigation. And so if you're entitled to absolute immunity, that means that you do not have to stand trial or face the burdens of litigation, which include all of the other deadlines and pretrial hearings and discovery obligations. Now, what Judge Tanya Chutkin is saying in this order is that she will not be vacating the trial date. She's keeping the March 4th, 2024 trial date. And she's keeping the other pretrial hearings, at least on calendar for now. Obviously, any of the motions for those, any of the work that needs to happen for those will not take place. And so the hearings will go off calendar. If the court of appeals, the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals does not move expeditiously in its resolution of Donald Trump's appeal of federal judge Tanya Chutkin's order denying his motion to dismiss on absolute presidential immunity grounds. But Judge Chutkin said, look, number one, I'm not going to be vacating the trial date. And as soon as this case gets back to me from the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals, I will be moving swiftly. I will be moving efficiently. I will be moving and making sure that the ends of justice are served, basically implying that she's going to move this as fast as she can. As soon as she gets the case back from the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals. Another thing she states in the order is that she does not believe that this notice of appeal divests her of jurisdiction to enforce the terms of condition of Donald Trump's release. And it does not divest her of the gag order that was imposed on Donald Trump for the threats that he made. And the gag order that was recently affirmed by the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals, Judge Chutkin says, I still have the ability to supervise that. I have jurisdiction over that. But as to all of the other deadlines, at least while this absolute presidential immunity appeal is pending, I am not, I do not have jurisdiction anymore over this case. So not great news to say the least, not good news to say the least. If you want a silver lining in this order, it's that Judge Tonya Chutkin is not moving the trial date. She's indicated throughout this that she will be moving expeditiously when the case is sent back to her. But ultimately, she felt constrained by the Greg's doctrine, the recent D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals holding that while it rejected Donald Trump's claim to absolute presidential immunity in a civil case or civil cases regarding the January 6 insurrection. It did talk about how absolute presidential immunity would constitute an entitlement not to stand trial or face the other burdens of litigation. Now, I think special counsel Jack Smith has done everything within his power, except one thing, which I was surprised he didn't do here. So he went to the United States Supreme Court right away, ask them to grant certiorari directly address the issue of Donald Trump's claim of absolute presidential immunity before there's even a D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals process taking place. So went right to the Supreme

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