# NY AG Letitia James drops the (civil) hammer {On Trump & Family} \[9/21/2022\] **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Tags:** trump\ **Created:** [September 21, 2022, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-ag-letitia-james-drops-the-civil-hammer-on-trump-family-9-21-2022/971991 "2022-09-21T16:13:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 29
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2023, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-ag-letitia-james-drops-the-civil-hammer-on-trump-family-9-21-2022/971991/562 "2023-10-04T01:31:51Z")
> [@Spoons](#): > > > [@Odesio](#): > > > > Someone help me out here please. I imagine the answer is likely no, but is there any reason why a defendant would need to be worried about a biased clerk? Does Engoran’s clerk make suggestions on how he should interpret law? Does she influence what the judge’s decision should be? > > No, and she could not make suggestions on what a judge’s decision should be. A clerk acts more in an administrative role—dealing with paperwork, forms, and so on. The clerk looks after the docket in docket court, and calls litigants before the court, but when it comes to acting in any sort of a legal capacity or advising on legal matters—nope. Are we talking about his court clerk, or his law clerk? They have very different functions. The court clerk is what Spoons has described. The law clerk is typically a young lawyer, hired for a year, to act as a legal researcher for the judge. A law clerk might summarise the pleadings and the briefs of the parties, and could do independent research for the judge on the points raised by the parties. That might give the law clerk some influence on the judge’s thinking, but the point about a senior judge is that they have loads of experience and independence. If a clerk comes to them with a novel legal theory, the judge normally will do a “Are you sure?” look , and may then do their own research, using the briefs and the clerk’s memo. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2023, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-ag-letitia-james-drops-the-civil-hammer-on-trump-family-9-21-2022/971991/563 "2023-10-04T01:34:17Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > Different documents, different cases, different female lawyers, same Mar A Lago. Man, if you tried to pitch this as a movie script, you’d be laughed out of the office. “No-one would do this!” Did Bobb and Habba bump into each other? “Can I help? you looking for financial docs too?” “No, I’m looking for national security docs.” “I think I same some in the third drawer on that desk; looked like it had a ketchup stain on it.” “Oh, thanks muchly.” ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2023, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-ag-letitia-james-drops-the-civil-hammer-on-trump-family-9-21-2022/971991/564 "2023-10-04T01:36:13Z")
It’s been specified it was the judge’s law clerk. Some judges rely heavily on their law clerks. Others not so much. Every judge I ever worked for really appreciated the work done by their law clerks but did their own final research before making any calls from the bench. Either way, Trump has no business smearing this woman. > [@bobot](#): > > My money says that this judge locks Trump up, if only for a night. Let’s not fuck around. Make it at least 3 nights. ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2023, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-ag-letitia-james-drops-the-civil-hammer-on-trump-family-9-21-2022/971991/565 "2023-10-04T01:36:48Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > Are we talking about his court clerk, or his law clerk? They have very different functions. Thanks for that. It’s an important distinction, and you explained it well. And thanks also to @Aspenglow for the clarification that Trump’s Truth was about the judge’s law clerk. I’ll do my best Emily Litella impression now: “Never mind.” ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2023, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-ag-letitia-james-drops-the-civil-hammer-on-trump-family-9-21-2022/971991/566 "2023-10-04T01:37:09Z")
> [@Aspenglow](#): > > Make it at least 3 nights. The weekend is coming. “No golf for you!” ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2023, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-ag-letitia-james-drops-the-civil-hammer-on-trump-family-9-21-2022/971991/567 "2023-10-04T01:38:37Z")
I believe 3 nights would be enough to make an actual impression. I’m sure his Secret Service detail would be delighted, too. ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2023, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-ag-letitia-james-drops-the-civil-hammer-on-trump-family-9-21-2022/971991/568 "2023-10-04T01:47:44Z")
> [@Aspenglow](#): > > I believe 3 nights would be enough to make an actual impression. At this point, I’d suggest that it should at least be tried. Little to nothing seems to make an impression on Trump; he has blustered and shouted and Tweeted, and suffered hardly any consequences. He needs to be told, by his lawyers if not by the judge, “Listen, Mr. Trump, we’re not screwing around this time. You violate this order, you will be in contempt of court, and you will be a guest of the State of New York for three nights. It is in your best interests to just shut up and say nothing to the public.” Think that might work? ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2023, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-ag-letitia-james-drops-the-civil-hammer-on-trump-family-9-21-2022/971991/569 "2023-10-04T01:50:51Z")
I don’t know, but I sure agree with you that it should be tried. I’ve long thought that Trump is the biggest coward on the planet. Three days in ad seg would probably go far toward shutting him up. He’s a typical bully. Loves to dish it out, can’t take it worth a shit. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2023, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-ag-letitia-james-drops-the-civil-hammer-on-trump-family-9-21-2022/971991/570 "2023-10-04T01:56:17Z")
> [@Spoons](#): > > “Listen, Mr. Trump, we’re not screwing around this time. You violate this order, you will be in contempt of court, and you will be a guest of the State of New York for three nights. It is in your best interests to just shut up and say nothing to the public.” More like this: “Listen, Mr. Trump, ~~we’re not screwing around this time. You violate this order, you will be in contempt of court, and you will be a guest of the State of New York for three nights. It is in your best interests to just shut up and say nothing to the public.~~ Blahblahblah" [![](https://live.staticflickr.com/5545/14392884862_449e40909d_w.jpg) ](https://live.staticflickr.com/5545/14392884862_449e40909d_w.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![slicedalone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slicedalone/32/12515_2.png) [@slicedalone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slicedalone)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2023, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-ag-letitia-james-drops-the-civil-hammer-on-trump-family-9-21-2022/971991/571 "2023-10-04T01:59:14Z")
So unfair. Certainly unconstitutional. I have First Amendment rights. Election interference. Send money. ---
**Author:** ![snowthx](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowthx/32/10660_2.png) [@snowthx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snowthx)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2023, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-ag-letitia-james-drops-the-civil-hammer-on-trump-family-9-21-2022/971991/572 "2023-10-04T03:53:55Z")
He’s trying to intimidate the court. He knows damn well some of his unhinged supporters will stalk people that arouse his ire, and possibly do them harm. He doesn’t have to be explicit, just call out someone’s name, wink-wink, and they’re ruined. The judge is right to be extra sensitive to the bluster and commentary on social media. Lock him up!! ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2023, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-ag-letitia-james-drops-the-civil-hammer-on-trump-family-9-21-2022/971991/573 "2023-10-04T04:34:27Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > Christina Bobb, who signed the certificate of compliance with the subpoena. According to the Mar-a-Lago indictment, she was asked to sign it by the senior lawyer on the file, Corcoran, and did so even though she had not been involved in the hunt for the documents listed in the subpoena. Actually, she was asked to do so but insisted the document be amended to “based upon the information that has been provided to me” by Evan Corcoran. > **[Trump lawyer told to certify Mar-a-Lago document search she did not conduct](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/oct/10/trump-lawyer-christina-bobb-mar-a-lago-certify-documents)** > > Christina Bobb told justice department on Friday that she signed supposedly complete list of documents at direction of another lawyer, Evan Corcoran ---
**Author:** ![CaptMurdock](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/captmurdock/32/11736_2.png) [@CaptMurdock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CaptMurdock)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2023, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-ag-letitia-james-drops-the-civil-hammer-on-trump-family-9-21-2022/971991/574 "2023-10-04T04:50:47Z")
Give him a real scare: put him in the same cell Jeffrey Epstein was in…before… ---
**Author:** ![aurora\_maire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aurora_maire/32/328_2.png) [@aurora\_maire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aurora_maire)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2023, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-ag-letitia-james-drops-the-civil-hammer-on-trump-family-9-21-2022/971991/575 "2023-10-04T04:53:24Z")
He has only posted one thing on Truth Social tonight (FIX THE BORDER!!!) so maybe they got through to him at least temporarily. And I imagine he’s been making some people very miserable all evening. Hold the ketchup. ---
**Author:** ![OttoDaFe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ottodafe/32/356_2.png) [@OttoDaFe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OttoDaFe)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2023, 6:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-ag-letitia-james-drops-the-civil-hammer-on-trump-family-9-21-2022/971991/576 "2023-10-04T06:38:29Z")
By this time most of the ketchup is probably on the wall. ---
**Author:** ![Horatius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horatius/32/3572_2.png) [@Horatius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatius)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2023, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-ag-letitia-james-drops-the-civil-hammer-on-trump-family-9-21-2022/971991/577 "2023-10-04T13:54:38Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > Man, if you tried to pitch this as a movie script, you’d be laughed out of the office. “No-one would do this!” I’d do it as a take-off of the old Reese’s peanut butter cup commercials. “You got your fraud in my top secret information!” “You got your top secret information in my fraud!” Two great crimes that crime well together! Now, the real question is, what valuation would Trump put on the Pentagon when he tries to sell it? ---
**Author:** ![mjmartin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3d9bf3/32.png) [@mjmartin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mjmartin)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2023, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-ag-letitia-james-drops-the-civil-hammer-on-trump-family-9-21-2022/971991/578 "2023-10-04T13:56:43Z")
> [@Aspenglow](#): > > Let’s not fuck around. Make it at least 3 nights. Can you imagine the fawning comparisons to Jesus if the judge locked him up for **3** days. Trump rolling away the stone would be the next NFT. ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2023, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-ag-letitia-james-drops-the-civil-hammer-on-trump-family-9-21-2022/971991/579 "2023-10-04T13:59:12Z")
> [@Horatius](#): > > Now, the real question is, what valuation would Trump put on the Pentagon when he tries to sell it? “It’s got so many sides. No one has ever seen a building with so many sides. You can put Trump on each side, increase your value. Five billion for a side, that sounds nice.” ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2023, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-ag-letitia-james-drops-the-civil-hammer-on-trump-family-9-21-2022/971991/580 "2023-10-04T14:51:40Z")
In Trump’s sales pitch, the Pentagon will have 11 sides. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2023, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-ag-letitia-james-drops-the-civil-hammer-on-trump-family-9-21-2022/971991/581 "2023-10-04T15:13:40Z")
Well, it does actually consist of 5 concentric buildings, so it rally does have 10 sides already. Although only the five outer faces of the outer building has great siting for putting his name up in big stupid letters. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-ag-letitia-james-drops-the-civil-hammer-on-trump-family-9-21-2022/971991.md?page=28) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-ag-letitia-james-drops-the-civil-hammer-on-trump-family-9-21-2022/971991.md?page=30)