As Donald J. Trump’s criminal trial wrapped up in May, one of his lawyers wanted to give the jury unusual instructions that would have made it harder to convict him.
A special case warranted special rules, the lawyer argued, and the first prosecution of a former American president was “obviously an extraordinarily important case.” The judge, Justice Juan M. Merchan, was unmoved.
“What you’re asking me to do is change the law, and I’m not going to do that,” he said.
The decision could influence not only the election, but American politics for years to come.
And it will almost certainly subject Justice Merchan to partisan second-guessing at a time when the nation’s faith in the judiciary has been shaken by the Supreme Court’s decisions on abortion, guns and other issues, as well as revelations about some of its justices’ own political entanglements.
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In the role of Donald J. Trump’s criminal trial wrapped up in May, one of his lawyers wanted to give the jury unusual instructions that would have made it harder to convict him. A special case warranted special rules, the lawyer argued, and the first prosecution of a former American president was “obviously an extraordinarily important case. “.
The judge, Justice Juan M. Merchan, was unmoved. He remarked, “I’m not going to change the law like you’re asking me to.”.
Throughout the hundreds of cases he has presided over, Justice Merchan has made a strong effort to handle the historic case in the same manner. But the most difficult decision the seasoned judge must make is whether to sentence Mr. Trump as scheduled on September 29 after a Manhattan jury found him guilty on 34 felony counts of fabricating records to conceal a sex scandal, more than three months after the incident. 18 or, at Mr. Trump’s request, hold off until after Election Day.
In addition to the election, the choice may have long-term effects on American politics. Furthermore, at a time when the public’s confidence in the judiciary has been eroded by the Supreme Court’s rulings on abortion, guns, and other issues, as well as by disclosures regarding the political affiliations of some of its justices, Justice Merchan will almost certainly be the target of partisan recriminations.
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