Because judges are practically untouchable, for a reason. We don’t want judges to have to be concerned about political issues.
Unfortunately it can lead to an incompetent and/or corrupt judge that you can’t remove.
FBI Search and Seizure at Trump's Mar-A-Lago Residence, August 8, 2022, Case Dismissed July 15, 2024
… and is doing an immense amount of damage to our national security. But hey. No biggie. Trump is safe, right?
Trump is fairly saavy when it comes to fraud and corruption, but I don’t believe he has the ability to formulate that kind of strategic long term plan. Even if this had been his plan, it would be predicated on him getting lucky by Cannon’s name coming up randomly. While I don’t think Trump is stupid he’s certainly no genuis.
That word, “randomly,” is doing a heavy lift here. No way to prove otherwise, but… just sayin’.
I apologize for being so jaded. Let’s just say I’ve seen the horse trading that can take place.
One of the things I’ve told my MAGA mother is that she lives in a world of shadowy conspiracy theories rather than reality. If there’s any evidence that someone tampered with the process to select the judge for this case I would be happy to review it. But until then, I’m not going to slip into tinfoil hattery because it’s a shot stop from there to Crazy Town. And let’s me honest, I simply can’t out-crazy MAGA. That’s a sucker’s bet.
No, you shouldn’t. That’s completely fair. As I said, there’s no evidence for it. And I’m not saying it happened. It’s possible that Smith just lost the crap shoot. But a lot of stuff did line up in an awfully fortuitous way for Trump.
My understanding is that the other two judges already had a full docket and so Cannon was the only one who could take it.
EDIT: At the time she was given this case, I think I remember posting something along the lines of how she was going to tank it because she’s so obviously partisan based on the special master kerfluffle. And I think @Aspenglow argued that we didn’t know she was in the bag for Trump. Not sure if I’m remembering it right, but that is my memory.
I’d love to find that exhange but I I feel like it would take hours of sifting to locate it.
EDIT 2: Found it immediately simply by searching this thread for posts by me with the word “assign.” Lots of misremembered details. @Aspenglow was right there with me thinking Cannon was in the bag for Trump. It was @Procrustus still giving her the benefit of the doubt at the time. (With very little conviction was that benefit of the doubt granted. Basically a desperate hope.)
Also, it wasn’t because the other two judges had full dockets (though I swear I read that somewhere off board) but rather that because she had been involved tangentially with this case in that special master deal, that made it more likely that she would be given this case.
I sense the same. ISTR reading (maybe here on the Dope) that she was one of only three judges available to be assigned to the case.
Well, it looks like Trump’s lawyers will be free to work on this case now.
I’m reading that exchange in your post and couldn’t help but think, Aileen Cannon is the Angel Hernandez of Federal judges.
Unfortunately, she’s not retiring… we’re stuck with her for life.
Except he had decades of experience. She’s an unsure, inexperienced Angel Hernandez.
The motion has been refiled.
Predictably, Trump’s lawyers oppose the motion.
There is theorizing that this motion may give Smith the ammunition he needs to get her off the case. It’s an extreme measure, but her conduct has also been extreme.
Thank you for the glimmer of hope.
But Bullwinkle, that trick never works.
It is absolutely ridiculous that this motion has to be filed at all.
If Cannon is replaced, here’s my count of who appointed the remaining Judges:
Biden: 3
Clinton: 2
GHW Bush: 1
GW Bush: 2
Obama: 4
Trump: 4
Evidently a lot of other folks want Cannon off the case.
The May 22 opinion from the 11th Circuit Judicial Council, which oversees lower courts in Florida, said that since May 16, 2024, the clerk has received more than 1,000 complaints “that raise allegations that are similar to the allegations raised in previous complaints.” The council ordered the court clerk to stop accepting similar complaints.
Gee, why do you suppose that is?
I mean, really, all they’re saying is “we get the message”. They’re not saying one way or the other whether they agree with the message.
This is an unusual twist in the defense’s quest to have Jack Smith disqualified for… reasons:
Cannon on Tuesday said that a variety of political partisans and constitutional scholars not otherwise involved with the case can join in the oral arguments later this month.
Does she think she’s on the Supreme Court, inviting amicus briefs to help her rule? Maybe she can’t figure out a plausible-sounding argument on her own and needs the cover of partisan “constitutional scholars” to make the argument for her.
There might be a reason she can’t come up with a legal rationale to kick Jack Smith off the case:
Similar challenges from Trump and other high-level targets of special counsel probes have flopped from coast to coast in recent years
Cannon holds a hearing on the legal power of the special counsel to prosecute a defendant, on June 21.