Legal experts raise concerns about Judge Cannon’s fitness to serve due to evasiveness in recent order

Legal experts raise concerns about Judge Cannon’s fitness to serve due to evasiveness in recent order

The judge overseeing the Mar-a-Lago documents trial, appointed by former President Trump, is facing criticism for potentially delaying the trial set for May 2024. U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon rejected a request from special counsel Jack Smith to set a deadline for Trump’s legal team to disclose classified materials they plan to use at trial. Cannon’s order indicated that the trial might not happen by May, which legal experts found surprising. Some questioned Cannon’s ability to handle a case involving classified information, while others expressed concerns about her bias. Former Mueller prosecutor Andrew Weissmann raised doubts about the judge’s actions, suggesting that she was intentionally pushing the trial date further back. Critics argue that Cannon’s approach prevents any other trial from being scheduled and limits Smith’s ability to challenge her decisions. Despite the speculation, the judge has not changed the trial date but is expected to revisit it on March 1.