In a recent interview on CNN, retired California Superior Court Judge LaDoris Hazzard Cordell delivered a stern message to former President Donald Trump, cautioning him against further defiance of legal boundaries in his ongoing criminal case.
Cordell addressed Trump’s recent controversial actions, including attacks on the judge overseeing his case and the posting of photos of the judge’s family members. She emphasized the importance of Trump understanding and adhering to the constraints of the law, highlighting the gravity of his actions.
Cordell said Trump is “just like a child, has to be told what he cannot do no matter how obvious like, you don’t threaten people, you don’t threaten judges, you don’t threaten family members.”
Expressing frustration with the lack of inclusion of judges’ families in gag orders, Cordell urged for stricter measures to protect them from threats resulting from Trump’s rhetoric, which she argued does not fall under First Amendment protection.
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“So Judge Merchan I believe should immediately expand the gag order to include himself and his family members and include D.A. Bragg and his family members,” she said. “I tell you I fail to understand why judges do not include themselves and their family members in these gag orders. They haven’t done so. Their lives and the lives of their families have been subjected to death threats, all because of Donald Trump’s words, and that kind of speech is not protected by the First Amendment.”
When pressed about potential consequences for Trump’s future actions, Cordell did not mince her words. Anticipating Trump’s possible defiance of the gag order, she warned him to be prepared for the prospect of imprisonment.
“When and not if, I think you’re right, Omar, when he steps across that gag order line, and I do hope it will be expanded,” she said she has “only one response: bring your toothbrush, Donald Trump, because you’re going to sit in a jail cell for a while.”
Cordell stressed the necessity of upholding the integrity of the judicial system and ensuring swift repercussions for any violations of court orders, underscoring the broader importance of safeguarding against threats and intimidation.
“That is a normal response, you can not have a court system that is subjected to these kinds of threats and intimidation.”
Watch the interview below from CNN.
