Trump’s Crowded Legal Calendar Leaves Judges to Juggle Court Dates
Since it's not reasonable to expect any defendant – let alone a former president – to juggle court appearances in five different locations, who gets to go first?

By Susan Milligan

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump is running for his life. But the myriad indictments against him might out-pace him as he seeks to become president again.

Including a civil defamation lawsuit and a case against Trump's company, the former president now faces five court cases, with a sixth one possible from a Georgia district attorney who has indicated she will issue charging documents this month.

It makes for a very crowded legal calendar and puts prosecutors and lawyers in a pickle: Since it's not reasonable to expect any defendant, let alone a former president, to juggle appearances at five different locations, who gets to go first?

And can any of the cases be concluded before the 2024 election – after which Trump, if he wins, could avert further prosecution or sentencing as a sitting president?

Trump's lawyer, John Lauro, wants to delay, calling special counsel Jack Smith's commitment to a speedy trial "absurd" because of the complications of the case. Lauro also suggested he would seek a change of venue for the most recent case, a four-count indictment Tuesday charging Trump with crimes connected to overturning the 2020 election.

Trump has said in the past that he could pardon himself – a claim disputed by legal scholars. But he could evade ongoing prosecution if he is elected.

https://www.usnews.com/news/national-news/articles/2023-08-02/trumps-crowded-legal-calendar-leaves-judges-to-juggle-court-dates

IMAGE AT TOP.....

The First Day of Term - or, The Devil among the Lawyers (MAULED BY GUS LEONISKY)

published by Bowles & Carver, after Robert Dighton
hand-coloured mezzotint, 1793 or after
13 3/4 in. x 9 3/4 in. (349 mm x 247 mm) paper size
Given by David Padbury, 2016

Robert Dighton

Artist associated with 320 portraits
Entered the Royal Academy Schools in 1772 and afterwards set up as a drawing-master and miniature portrait painter. The first prints that he designed were of actors in character for John Bell's edition of Shakespeare's works (1775-6). Dighton became well known as a caricaturist. He satirised lawyers, military officers, actors and actresses, as well as tailors, academics and the down-at-heel types. For a time he combined his career as artist and printseller with that of an actor and singer in the West End. In 1806, Dighton achieved notoriety when it was discovered that he had been stealing prints from the British Museum. His son, Richard Dighton, was also a caricaturist.