Arthur Engoron, the judge in Trump’s civil fraud trial, previously pointed out that he has the power to overrule juries if they, in his eyes, get it wrong.
A Large Penalty
As it’s a jury-free bench trial, Engoron holds a fair amount of power and authority in Trump’s case. Ultimately, he’ll decide the outcome. Trump could face a $250 million penalty if he loses. Moreover, he could be banned from conducting business in New York.
A Democrat Donor
Judge Engoron has donated a fair amount of money to the Democrats over the years, amounting to more than $5,000. For the most part, the money went to local committees. His most recent donation was in 2018.
Juries Get It Wrong
While Trump’s case does not involve a jury, Engoron has made some interesting comments about them in the past. In a video, he said: “Now, I’m going to say something controversial even though I’m being taped. Juries get it wrong a lot – that’s my own opinion. I do only civil trials – personal injury cases, contract disputes – but I’ve had situations where, like, ‘Oh, my heaven’s sake. How could they have thought that?’”
An Impartial Referee
Engoron continued: “Well, I have a tool that I can deal with that. It’s called judgment notwithstanding the verdict. I can say there is no possible way that a reasonable jury would have reached that conclusion. Alright, am I following the law, or am I making the law? Okay, I’m following the law. I’m an impartial referee but it’s hard to factor out my own emotions. I have tools.”
Reasonable and Fair
While Engoron’s remarks may seem alarming, he’s not wrong. Judgment notwithstanding the verdict exists for a reason and, while judges are human beings with their own opinions, thoughts, and emotions, they’re generally able to put those aside and look at the facts.
Donald Trump’s Words
Trump has called Engoron a “Democrat” and an “operative.” While the judge has donated to the Democratic Party in the past, it’s important to remember that he’s allowed to have political opinions as long as he doesn’t let them influence his work.
The Internet’s Response
While the video of Engoron making the controversial remarks appears to be around eight years old, it’s only recently been widely shared on social media. Naturally, it attracted a lot of attention from a variety of different people. Trump’s fans were horrified, claiming that the judge would put his emotions above facts.
Judgment Notwithstanding the Verdict
Others pointed out that the horror of Trump’s supporters was misplaced as the former president’s trial wouldn’t have a jury anyway. Moreover, they emphasized that judgment notwithstanding the verdict wouldn’t be allowed to be misused. Most responses, though, were from highly concerned MAGA Republicans.
Pathetic and Biased
Some commenters accused Engoron of being biased. They did not provide evidence or examples. One such individual said: “Wow, super crooked judge. Guess we know why they picked him. Pathetic how biased he is. When will common sense and decency prevail? Hopefully the higher courts overturn this and disbar him.”
Conviction With No Trial
Others incorrectly claimed that Engoron already convicted Trump without a trial. “More crooked Democrats. He should be removed from the case. What has happened to the criminal justice system? Lock this judge up who has already convicted Trump without a trial,” one person said.
Bankruptcy and Failed Businesses
“Trump has a strong understanding of the economy and how to keep it stable,” another commenter said. It’s important to note that Trump has a very well-documented history of bankruptcy and failed businesses. The pattern is so consistent that one could indeed call it “stable” – and a U.S. economy under the former president would undoubtedly reflect this stability.
The Founding Fathers
“The judge and prosecutor should both be disbarred. His and her past comments, as well as their activities from the beginning of the hearings, would never be tolerated by our Founding Fathers,” another individual wrote. They did not comment on whether or not the Founding Fathers would approve of Trump’s fraudulent activity and attempts to end democracy.
Removed From the Bench
“That is enough to get him disbarred and removed from the bench,” one person said, clearly not realizing that informing people of judgment notwithstanding the verdict is not, in fact, a crime or against any rules.
Reading Comprehension Issues
One person, commenting on an article about the video clip, appeared to have problems with reading comprehension. They said: “So, in other words, this judge doesn’t follow the law unless he wants to. Otherwise, he does what he feels is right. Sounds like justice to me.”
First Amendment Rights
Hitting back at all the aforementioned individuals, one person said: “All the judge did was share an opinion. He did not try a coup attempt or send illegal electors to the Capitol or even start an insurrection, which the orange-treasonous-mafia-wannabe-traitor claims were his First Amendment rights.”
A Simple Opinion
The commenter continued: “The judge has his rights to his opinion. The judge didn’t steal government documents and share them with individuals for money. The judge didn’t call Georgia and beg for stolen votes. The judge didn’t incite a riot at the Capitol. The judge doesn’t have 91 criminal charges to face.”
The Eternal Victim
Another commenter wrote: “There is no jury because Trump and his attorneys did not request one. But of course, Trump, the eternal ‘victim,’ is trying to make it seem like it’s a conspiracy against him. And of course, his idiot, moron supporters eat it all up. Trump sure loves the uneducated!”
Legally Overturning the Verdict
Defending Engoron, another person said: “The judge is correct. Juries do get things wrong because they do not get to see all the evidence. Judges do. Juries can also choose not to convict when they feel or believe the law is wrong or does not apply. As a judge, if he believes the jury got it wrong, yes – he legally overturns the verdict.”
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