Judge Committed Two Errors During June Trial in Trump Documents Case
Legal experts and a court transcript reveal that US District Judge Aileen Cannon made two significant errors in a June trial that violated the defendant’s constitutional rights and could have invalidated the proceedings. The judge closed the courtroom to the defendant’s family and the public during jury selection, a violation of the defendant’s right to a public trial under the Sixth Amendment. Additionally, Cannon failed to swear in the prospective jury pool, a necessary procedure. These errors forced Cannon to restart jury selection, but the trial ended abruptly when the defendant pleaded guilty. The closing of the courtroom and failure to swear in the jury pool are considered “structural errors” that can invalidate a criminal trial because they strike at the core of the entire process and implicate First Amendment rights. Cannon’s handling of this trial raises questions about how she will handle the intense public interest in former President Donald Trump’s upcoming trial, which is scheduled to begin in the same courtroom. The errors also highlight Cannon’s judicial inexperience, according to former federal judges. Cannon’s previous rulings have faced criticism and reversals by higher courts, leading to concerns about her ability to handle complex and high-profile cases.
