I’ll get more serious when the action resumes. Meanwhile, I’d guess the only view Judge Merchan will have of DJT is this one:
That’s what is called direct criminal contempt, because it is done in the court’s presence (as opposed to indirect criminal contempt, which is done outside of court).
The judge has already set a hearing on Trump’s indirect contempt, for April 24th. The judge wouldn’t be required to give advance notice for direct criminal contempt (and I once saw a judge give a guy 5 months and 29 days of jail - one day short of the maximum sentence he could impose - for saying “fuck you” to his bailiff).
Does donald want to fuck around? Because he will find out.
Like he has so many times before.
Oh, wait…
50 have been excused so far, 18 will start the questioning. The ones who have been excused, are due to not being able to be fair or impartial.
I believe it is a U.S. thing. We don’t have them in Canada. Would be a breach of the constitutional requirement of a public trial.
Maybe his handlers have pumped tranks into him so he’ll behave?
If only they’d brought proper eyewear:
Would snoring loudly be considered contempt?
The side bar is either transcribed and part of the public record, or the judge summarizes what happened in open court during the next time the jury is excused.
I’m not disputing what you say about Canada, but we also have requirements for public trials and side bars are not considered any violation of that rule.
I mean … if Trump has diagnosed Sleep Apnea, snoring could constitute Obstruction.
In fact, they’re usually arguments about what evidence can/can’t be admitted and placed before the jury. Taking the arguments and ruling at sidebar out of the jurors’ hearing is meant to keep them from hearing things that they shouldn’t be considering during deliberations.
Maybe it’s the norm in NYC, but I’ve been through voir dire at least ten times over the years here in SoCal, and the judge was always in the courtroom during the process. So, maybe the norm varies?
Afternoon break. Trump stops and glares at Maggie Haberman for several seconds on his way out. Must not like that she reported him nodding off.
Usually the sidebars are after an objection. Sometimes there is a staticy noise, it resembles a sports huddle, judge, steno, and lawyers for both sides. They huddle up and discuss the objection, come to a decision, and go back to their positions, ruling is issued.
Should the jury want a copy of the transcripts, they will only see the parts they heard, not the transcripts of the sidebar.
I hope the court artist got it.
Usually the jury doesn’t get the transcripts, even if one of the parties is paying for daily copy. The judge will instruct the jury that they have to rely on their memory of the testimony, plus any notes they took, if they’re allowed to do that – some courts allow it, some don’t.
One trial I was in the steno read out the relevant bit.
That was during the course of the trial, not during deliberations, though, right?
It would be cool if that happens, and it well may. But just for clarity, I believe that Trump’s presence is not just a right but a requirement – he has to be there throughout the trial, no?
During deliberations, regarding the direction a witness ran.