A federal judge delivered a significant ruling against former President Donald Trump on Monday, mandating that he faces trial in March 2024 in the Justice Department’s case that revolves around his attempts to retain power following his loss in the 2020 election.
U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan’s ruling to commence jury selection on March 4 follows a request from special counsel Jack Smith’s team for a trial date on January 2, 2024, while Trump’s legal team proposed a trial date in April 2026.
Chutkan expressed dissatisfaction with both proposals, citing their considerable disparity, and explained that neither was acceptable for reasons she would elaborate on shortly during the hearing’s commencement.
The judge criticized the timelines presented by both the prosecution and Trump’s legal representatives, stating that setting a trial date either too close or too distant could impede the defendant’s preparation or lead to fading witness recollections.
“These proposals are very far apart and for reasons I’ll get into shortly none of them is acceptable,” Chutkan said at the start of the hearing.
“While Mr. Trump has the right to prepare, the public has a right to prompt and efficient resolution of this matter,” she added.
Chutkan highlighted that the selected date means Trump will undergo trial over three years after a mob of his supporters stormed the Capitol after attending his rally.
The judge also underscored that a trial date “cannot and should not” be contingent on a defendant’s professional commitments, alluding to Trump’s ambitions for another presidential run. She likened the situation to a professional athlete’s trial date not being scheduled to accommodate their schedule.
Although Chutkan initially questioned Smith’s team’s ability to provide examples of substantial cases tried within the suggested five-month timeframe, her interactions with Trump’s attorney, John Lauro, became more intense. She urged Lauro twice to maintain a calmer tone as he voiced concerns about the trial date.
Lauro consistently emphasized his dedicated duty to effectively represent Trump and argued that the abundance of evidence in the case necessitated more time for adequate trial preparation.
“This boils down to whether one man, one U.S. citizen, receives a fair trial or not. From what I’ve seen, Your Honor, this is an enormous undertaking,” he stated.
However, the judge dismissed the notion that Trump’s legal team required a three-year period to ready themselves for the trial, establishing the trial date for March 4, 2024.
