It has been noted that New York Supreme Court Justice Juan Merchan has sent a warning to former President Donald Trump that he might lose access to juror names in his upcoming trial if he continues to speak about the case in a way that the judge deems a “risk” to court proceedings via The Epoch Times.
“Defendant is hereby put on notice that he will forfeit any statutory right he may have to access jury names if he engages in any conduct that threatens the safety and integrity of the jury or the jury selection process,” the judge warned in his April 1 order expanding an existing gag order.
The Manhattan District Attorney is prosecuting the former president on 34 counts of falsifying business records, alleging a scheme to influence the 2016 elections with payments made to kill unfavorable news stories. Meanwhile. Michael Cohen, formerly President Trump’s personal attorney, had gone on the record claiming that he made such payments to bury allegations of an affair brought forth by an adult film star, leading to an investigation.
It has been noted that the prosecutors had requested a gag order, which the judge granted on March 26, and had earlier requested to shield the names of jurors specifically from President Trump in a motion on which the judge had held off ruling.
Last week, President Trump criticized the judge on social media and referred to his daughter. This led to a conflict between the two parties, resulting in the judge expanding his gag order. President Trump argued that the judge is biased and that his daughter is the head of a political marketing firm that has represented his political opponents, receiving millions from them. Therefore, he believes that she has a partisan interest in the case.
In his April 1 decision, the judge clarified that the original gag order indeed excluded the district attorney and judge. Federal courts have found that it would be unconstitutional to prohibit defendants from speaking about the court, or judge presiding over his case, and all three gag orders on President Trump have adhered to this precedent.
