“Utterly Without Merit”: Judge’s Brutal Rejection of Trump’s “Nonsensical” Motion for Mistrial in NY Fraud Case

Jo ShawNov 22, 2023

Minute Read

Trump and his legal team submitted an extensive request for a mistrial in the New York fraud case. They contended that the law clerk working with Judge Engoron was effectively co-judging the case and exhibited bias, citing her Democratic donations as evidence. However, the Judge swiftly rejected Trump’s motion with a brief and strongly-worded ruling, dismissing it as “futile” and labeling the arguments to halt the case as “nonsensical.”

Utterly Without Merit

Judge Engoron, overseeing the $250 million civil fraud case against Trump, emphatically denied his request for a mistrial, declaring that the arguments the former President and his legal team put forth were “utterly without merit.” Judge Arthur Engoron wrote in his ruling, “In good conscience, I cannot sign a proposed order to show cause that is utterly without merit, and upon which subsequent briefing would therefore be futile.”

Futile to Allow Arguments

In a concise and critical judgment, Judge Engoron stated that he dismissed the mistrial motion without entertaining arguments. He asserted that the motion’s foundations were flawed, deeming any discussion “futile.”

Made in Bad Faith

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In his ruling, Engoron stated that Trump’s reasons for attempting to halt the trial were “disingenuous” and made in “bad faith.” He further criticized the arguments put forward in the motion as “nonsensical.”

Law Clerk Had Made Political Donations

In the filed motion, Trump’s legal team asserted that Engoron’s law clerk had exceeded legal limits in political donations to Democrats. The Judge strongly refuted the claim.

Lawyers Had Their Facts Wrong

Engoron stated that lawyers for Trump had their facts wrong and noted that his clerk’s financial donations “were well below the ethical and legal permissible annual limit.”

Law Clerk Does Not Make Rulings

The Judge continued by stating the lawyers’ arguments about his law clerk being biased were “nonsensical” as his clerk “does not make rulings or issue orders — I do.”

“Tangible and Overwhelming” Bias

Team Trump accused Engoron of “tangible and overwhelming” bias in the now-defeated motion for mistrial.

Salvaging What Is Left

Trump’s lawyers wrote, “In this case the evidence of apparent and actual bias is tangible and overwhelming.” The motion continued to read, “Only the grant of a mistrial can salvage what is left of the rule of law.”

Trump’s Right to a Fair Trial

Trump’s legal team had implored Judge Arthur Engoron to halt the case immediately, contending that he had irreversibly compromised Trump’s right to a fair trial. In presenting their arguments, the attorneys highlighted Engoron’s prior rulings and emphasized the involvement of his law clerk in the case.

Judge Is Extremely Hostile

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Trump has previously called Judge Engoron “extremely hostile” and repeatedly claimed that the trial is unfair and politically motivated. GOP Rep. Elise Stefanik has also backed Trump and his lawyers by submitting a complaint to the court about the Judge’s conduct during the trial.

Immediately Halt Proceedings

Trump’s lawyers argued in their motion, “The only way to maintain public confidence in a truly independent and impartial judiciary and the rule of law is to bring these proceedings to an immediate halt,” a request that the Judge rejected.

Clerk Is Co-judging the Case

Lawyers for Trump had accused Engoron’s clerk of acting as a “co-judge” in the trial. Trump’s lawyers wrote, “Before the court rules on most issues, the court either pauses to consult with her on the bench or receives from her contemporaneous written notes.” The Judge had harshly warned Kise, Trump’s lawyer, not to make misogynistic remarks concerning his staff. Kise’s comments had led to Trump’s legal team facing a gag order.

Creating the Appearance of a Co-judge

The lawyers further argued that actions carried out by Engoron’s clerk “creates the appearance, if not the fact, of a co-judge presiding over the trial.”

Trump Attempting to Distract From the Case

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A representative from the New York attorney general’s office commented that the motion for a mistrial is yet another of Trump’s efforts to divert attention away from the case.

The Truth Always Comes Out

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The spokesperson stated, “Once again, Donald Trump is trying to dismiss the truth and the facts, but the numbers and evidence don’t lie. Donald Trump is now being held accountable for the years of fraud he committed and the incredible ways he lied to enrich himself and his family.” The statement continued, “He can keep trying to distract from his fraud, but the truth always comes out.”

Talks for a Settlement

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Reportedly, Trump has ignited speculation regarding potential discussions for a settlement. Trump took to his social media platform Truth Social, declaring that the Judge had asked him “to settle for a MUCH LOWER AMOUNT, at a settlement conference, but I said NO, I DID NOTHING WRONG!” Trump posted.

Patently Unfit to Be President Again

People went online to comment on the news. One user wrote, “Trump has been very sickly obsessed on Judge Engoron’s law clerk for many months. Trump is very seriously mentally disturbed, and patently unfit to be President again.”

All Part of the Plan

Another user added, “All part of the plan. Ammunition for the appeal and so on, and on and on. He is never going to be made accountable for anything. There is nothing like having money and lawyers to keep filing documents.”