Shut Up…..
STF Up…..
A New York appeals court on Tuesday affirmed a gag order against former President Trump in his hush money criminal case.
The order, imposed on Trump by Judge Juan Merchan, bars Trump from publicly commenting on witnesses, prosecutors, court staff or the judge’s family. It does not prevent him from attacking Merchan or Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg (D).
Trump has railed against his gag order as a violation of his First Amendment rights, arguing it prevents him from responding to political attacks being levied by high-profile witnesses and others.
“Justice Merchan properly determined that petitioner’s public statements posed a significant threat to the integrity of the testimony of witnesses and potential witnesses in this case as well,” the decision from the five-judge panel reads.
In the decision, the panel compares Merchan’s gag order to a gag imposed on Trump in his federal election interference case. The New York judges aligned with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit’s decision to allow Trump’s gag there to stand…..
Matthew Segal
Law School Exam Issue-Spotter:
A defendant who is subject to a gag order invites surrogates, who may in the future seek jobs from him, to stand outside the courthouse and promote jury nullification. Who if anyone has liability, and for what?