Federal judge delivers rare response after Trump attacks the daughter of a judge

CNN
29 Mar 202408:53

Summary

TLDRIn a recent development surrounding Donald Trump's hush money trial in New York, the presiding judge, Juan Roshan, has firmly prohibited any attacks against prosecutors, witnesses, and jurors by Trump or his legal team. Amidst this, Trump has targeted Roshan's daughter, labeling her a 'rabid Trump hater' and falsely accusing her of bias due to her past Democratic campaign work and an alleged social media post. Senior US District Judge Reggie Walton, discussing the broader implications of such actions, emphasizes the paramount importance of judicial independence and the rule of law. He highlights the personal and professional challenges judges face, including threats to their safety, and underscores the vital role of the judiciary in preserving democracy.

Takeaways

  • 📝 A New York judge has explicitly forbidden former President Donald Trump and his legal team from attacking prosecutors, witnesses, and jurors in the upcoming hush money trial.
  • 🔥 Donald Trump has targeted Judge Juan Roshan's daughter, labeling her a 'rabid Trump hater' due to her past work for Democratic campaigns and a misconstrued association with a social media post.
  • 🤔 The New York state court system clarified that the judge's daughter had long abandoned the Twitter account in question, which was inaccurately linked to her email, highlighting misinformation.
  • 💁‍♂️ Senior US District Judge Reggie Walton, appointed by Presidents Bush 41 and 43, discusses the serious implications of targeting judges and their families, emphasizing the protection of the rule of law.
  • 🔴 Judge Walton shares personal experiences of threats against him and his family, underscoring the dangers faced by judges but reaffirms the commitment to impartial justice.
  • 🙏 Despite threats, judges strive to ensure fair treatment for all litigants, a principle Walton emphasizes as fundamental to democracy and the rule of law.
  • 🔨 Walton addresses the increasing threats against judges, particularly in the context of January 6 defendants, marking a concerning trend against judicial safety.
  • 💬 The discussion also touches on the impact of public figures' statements, hinting at the responsibility Trump holds in potentially inciting actions through his remarks.
  • 👉 Judge Juan Roshan's decision to exclude himself and his family from the gag order is seen as maintaining judicial impartiality and focusing on fair trial proceedings.
  • 🌎 Walton's decision to speak out highlights a need to defend the judiciary and democracy against threats, advocating for an independent court system as a bulwark against tyranny.

Q & A

  • What actions did Donald Trump take against Judge Juan Roshan's daughter?

    -Donald Trump attacked Judge Juan Roshan's daughter by calling her out by name in a post, labeling her a 'rabid Trump hater' due to her previous work for Democratic campaigns, and falsely accused her of posting a picture of him behind bars.

  • Why does Donald Trump believe he cannot get a fair trial?

    -Trump believes he cannot get a fair trial because he claims Judge Roshan's daughter posted a picture of him behind bars, indicating bias against him, despite the New York court system's statement that the Twitter account was abandoned long ago and not linked to her email.

  • What is Senior US District Judge Reggie Walton's stance on the dangers of attacking judges and their families?

    -Judge Reggie Walton finds it very disconcerting and problematic, especially when such comments form a threat to the family. He emphasizes that the rule of law can only function effectively when judges can carry out their duties without the threat of physical harm.

  • Has Judge Walton ever been threatened because of his position?

    -Yes, Judge Walton has been threatened, including a specific instance where someone threatened him one day and then made a threat against his daughter the next day, indicating they had researched his personal information.

  • How does Judge Walton handle threats to ensure fair treatment in his courtroom?

    -Despite receiving threats, Judge Walton stresses the importance of not letting them impact how he lives his life or treats litigants before him, upholding the obligation to ensure fair treatment for everyone, regardless of threats.

  • What does Judge Walton say about the impact of high-profile individuals making threatening statements?

    -Judge Walton believes that individuals, especially those with societal status, should be circumspect in their statements as they can resonate with others and potentially lead to harmful actions, emphasizing the responsibility of people in authority.

  • Why did Judge John Mershon not include his family in the gag order?

    -Judge Mershon did not include himself or his family in the gag order because judges should not make the case about themselves. Maintaining impartiality and not becoming part of the issue is crucial for ensuring a fair adjudication for all parties involved.

  • What are Judge Walton's thoughts on the former president, Donald Trump?

    -Judge Walton has been straightforward in his assessment of Donald Trump, referring to him as a charlatan during a January 6th defendant's sentencing and expressing doubts about Trump's commitment to democracy over power. However, Walton prefers not to comment further on his current feelings.

  • Has Judge Walton received more threats since handling January 6th defendants?

    -Yes, Judge Walton has received a greater number of threats since having cases arising from the January 6th incident before him, marking a significant increase in threats compared to his over 40 years of service as a judge.

  • What motivated Judge Walton to speak publicly about the issue of threats against judges?

    -Judge Walton's concern for preserving democracy and the rule of law, coupled with the reality of judges and their family members being harmed or killed due to their judicial roles, motivated him to speak publicly about the importance of maintaining an independent and efficient court system.

Outlines

00:00

🚨 Judge's Firm Stance on Fair Trial and Trump's Allegations

The first paragraph discusses the New York judge's clear stance on maintaining the integrity of the legal process in the face of Donald Trump's attempts to influence the trial. The judge has banned Trump from attacking prosecutors, witnesses, and jurors, leading Trump to target the judge's daughter. Despite accusations made by Trump, the New York state court system has clarified that the daughter's past social media activity is not relevant as she has abandoned her account. The judge emphasizes the importance of the rule of law and the potential danger to judges and their families when faced with such threats. The interview with Senior US District Judge Reggie Walton highlights the commitment to fair trials and the troubling reality of threats against judges, underlining the necessity for judges to remain impartial and focused on upholding the law.

05:02

📝 Judge's Perspective on Impartiality and Handling January 6th Cases

The second paragraph delves into the challenges faced by judges, particularly in high-profile cases like those related to January 6th. It discusses the judge's commitment to impartiality, even when presiding over cases involving controversial figures. The judge explains the importance of not making the case about the judge themselves, but about ensuring fair adjudication for all parties involved. Despite previous critical comments about the former president, the judge chooses not to elaborate further on his views, focusing instead on the broader issue of maintaining the rule of law and the independence of the judiciary. The increase in threats against judges, especially those handling January 6th cases, is acknowledged as a serious concern, and the judge calls for the protection of the judicial system for the sake of democracy.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡hush money trial

A 'hush money trial' refers to legal proceedings centered around payments made to suppress information that could be damaging or embarrassing. In the context of the video, this relates to the trial of Donald Trump, where he is accused of making such payments. This trial forms the backdrop of the discussion, highlighting the legal and ethical issues involved in such cases.

💡gag order

A gag order is a legal directive that restricts parties involved in a legal case from discussing case details publicly, to ensure a fair trial. In the video, the judge issued a gag order to prevent Donald Trump from attacking prosecutors, witnesses, and jurors, which underscores the judiciary's efforts to maintain the integrity of the trial process.

💡rule of law

The 'rule of law' is a principle under which all persons, institutions, and entities are accountable to laws that are publicly promulgated, equally enforced, and independently adjudicated. The video discusses threats to judges and their families as attacks on the rule of law, emphasizing the importance of judicial independence for democracy.

💡threats

In the video, 'threats' refer to menacing actions or words aimed at judges or their families, intending to intimidate or influence judicial proceedings. The discussion includes instances where judges and their relatives were targeted, highlighting the personal risks faced by those in the judiciary.

💡judicial independence

Judicial independence is the concept that judges should be free to make decisions based on the law and facts, without undue influence from other branches of government or external pressures. The video emphasizes this as critical for ensuring fair trials and upholding the rule of law, particularly in politically charged cases.

💡Donald Trump

Donald Trump, a key figure in the video, is discussed in relation to the hush money trial and his subsequent actions, including attacking the judge's daughter. His behavior raises questions about respect for judicial processes and the impact of high-profile individuals on public perception and legal proceedings.

💡fair trial

A 'fair trial' is a legal process that is open, impartial, and conducted with due respect for the legal rights of all parties involved. The video touches on concerns about whether Trump can receive a fair trial given his actions and public statements, illustrating the tension between public discourse and legal standards.

💡Judge Reggie Walton

Judge Reggie Walton, mentioned in the video, provides insights into the challenges faced by the judiciary, particularly in light of political pressures and public scrutiny. His experiences and views shed light on the broader context of maintaining judicial integrity and security.

💡social media

Social media plays a role in the video as a medium through which Donald Trump criticizes and attacks legal figures and processes. The discussion reflects on the power of social media to influence public opinion and the legal system, and its potential to undermine the rule of law.

💡judicial security

Judicial security, highlighted in the video, refers to the measures necessary to protect judges and their families from threats and violence. The video cites several incidents where judges were targeted, underlining the growing concern for safety in the legal community.

Highlights

A New York judge strictly enforces no tolerance for attacks against prosecutors, witnesses, and jurors in Donald Trump's hush money trial.

Donald Trump shifts focus, attacking Judge Juan Roshan's daughter, labeling her a 'rabid Trump hater'.

Trump accuses the judge's daughter of bias, citing her past work for Democratic campaigns and a misleading claim about a social media post.

New York's court system clarifies the misrepresentation of Judge Roshan's daughter's social media activity.

Despite personal attacks, Judge Roshan's gag order does not extend to himself or his family.

Senior US District Judge Reggie Walton discusses the dangers and inappropriateness of attacking judges and their families.

Judge Walton shares personal experiences of threats against him and his family, emphasizing the importance of upholding the rule of law.

The discussion highlights the reality of threats to judges as an attack on the rule of law.

The psychological impact of threats on judges and their impartiality in the courtroom is examined.

The conversation addresses the concern over Donald Trump's awareness and the consequences of his public statements.

Judge Walton's rationale on why judges should not be included in their own gag orders to maintain judicial impartiality.

Judge Walton's criticism of Trump as a 'charlatan' during a sentencing, reflecting on Trump's attitude towards democracy and power.

An increase in threats against Judge Walton and other judges in the context of the January 6th defendants' trials.

The significant rise in threats against judges highlighted by the Marshal Service's reports.

Judge Walton's advocacy for judicial independence and the preservation of democracy through a robust rule of law.

The importance of speaking out on judicial issues to ensure the efficiency and fairness of the court system against the backdrop of potential tyranny.

Transcripts

00:01

The New York judge and

00:02

Donald Trump's upcoming hush money

00:03

trial has made it crystal clear this week

00:05

that he is not in the mood for any games

00:07

from the former president

00:08

or his legal team.

00:09

Banning Trump

00:10

from attacking

00:11

prosecutors, witnesses and jurors.

00:13

So Trump has found someone new

00:15

to attack Judge Juan Roshan's daughter

00:18

in a new post tonight,

00:19

he calls her out by name.

00:21

Trump goes

00:22

after her as a, quote, rabid Trump hater

00:25

because she's done work

00:26

for Democratic campaigns in the past.

00:28

He didn't stop there.

00:29

He also accused her of posting

00:31

a picture of him behind bars,

00:33

which Trump says, quote,

00:34

makes it completely impossible

00:36

for me to get a fair trial.

00:38

I should note, however, that

00:40

that is apparently not true

00:42

in the New York state courts.

00:44

Court system says that long ago

00:46

to Judge Morrison's daughter

00:47

abandoned that Twitter account

00:49

and that it's also not linked

00:50

to her email.

00:52

Even so, she's a private citizen.

00:54

She's not party to this case.

00:56

I should note that the gag order

00:57

that the judge did

00:58

put in place earlier

00:59

this week doesn't apply to himself

01:01

nor to his family.

01:03

Tonight, I want to bring in

01:04

senior US District Judge Reggie Walton,

01:06

who was nominated for Judgeships

01:08

by both Presidents Bush 41 and 43.

01:11

And it's great

01:11

to have you here, Judge, tonight.

01:13

And I just want to say

01:14

thank you for joining us.

01:16

And I think to a lot of people,

01:17

the dangers of attacking a judge

01:19

and his family and their family is clear.

01:22

I wonder how you would respond

01:24

to something like this.

01:28

Well, it's very

01:28

disconcerting to have someone

01:32

making comments about a judge,

01:35

and it's particularly problematic

01:36

when those comments

01:38

are in the form of a threat,

01:40

especially if they're directed

01:41

at one's family.

01:42

I mean, we do these jobs

01:44

because we're committed

01:45

to the rule of law

01:46

and we believe in the rule of law.

01:47

And the rule of law

01:48

can only function effectively

01:51

when we have judges who are prepared

01:53

to carry out their duties

01:54

without the threat

01:56

of potential physical harm.

01:59

And, you know, personally,

02:01

I mean, what this is like

02:02

someone threatened your daughter

02:03

once as well.

02:06

Yes.

02:07

Threatened me one day

02:08

and then

02:09

the next day called

02:10

and made a threat against

02:12

against my daughter

02:12

and also indicated my address.

02:15

So they obviously had done some research

02:17

to find out that I had a daughter

02:19

and what her name was

02:20

and also where I live.

02:23

I mean, what's that?

02:24

That that must be terrifying.

02:28

Well, it is.

02:29

But you kind of have to appreciate

02:32

that you can't let that impact

02:34

on how you live your life

02:36

and how you treat litigants

02:37

who are before you.

02:38

Because even though threats may be made

02:41

against you

02:41

and against your family,

02:42

you still have an obligation to ensure

02:44

that everybody who comes into

02:46

your courtroom

02:47

is treated

02:47

fairly regardless of who they are

02:49

or what they've done.

02:50

But nonetheless,

02:51

it is very troubling

02:52

because I think it is an attack

02:54

on the rule of law

02:55

when judges are threatened

02:56

and particularly

02:57

when their family is threatened.

02:59

And it's something that's wrong

03:01

and should not happen.

03:03

Given that, I mean,

03:05

and you said it shouldn't

03:05

impact your work,

03:07

but it's got to be something

03:09

that's always kind of

03:09

in the back of your mind

03:11

when when you're going to work,

03:12

when you're leaving

03:13

to have those kinds of threats

03:15

hanging out there.

03:18

Yeah.

03:18

I mean,

03:19

unfortunately, it's a reality that

03:22

it's not inconceivable

03:23

that something could happen.

03:24

We always have to hope

03:25

that doesn't occur.

03:26

But, you know, several years ago,

03:28

one of my colleagues up in New Jersey,

03:30

her husband was seriously injured

03:32

and sadly, her son was killed.

03:36

And we had a judge out in Chicago

03:38

who someone came after her.

03:40

And fortunately,

03:40

she was not there,

03:41

but her family members were.

03:43

And several of them lost their lives.

03:46

So it's a reality that we live with.

03:48

But you try not

03:49

to let it impact on your day to day life.

03:53

I don't expect you

03:55

to get political here, obviously.

03:56

But do you think that's something

03:57

that Donald Trump considers

03:59

when he posts something like this?

04:02

I can't get into someone's

04:05

mind to say

04:06

whether they appreciate

04:07

the impact that they're doing.

04:09

But I would think that

04:09

he's any reasonable thinking person

04:12

would appreciate that

04:14

when they say things that can sometimes

04:16

resonate with others.

04:17

And I think that's particularly true

04:20

when you have somebody

04:21

who has status in our society

04:23

and they make certain statements

04:25

that can cause people

04:26

to act on those statements,

04:28

even if they don't necessarily

04:30

intend for someone to do so.

04:32

So I think it's very important

04:33

that people in positions of authority

04:36

be very circumspect

04:38

in reference to the things that they say

04:40

so that they're not causing others

04:42

to act on what they say

04:43

and maybe cause injury or death

04:45

to somewhat as a result of that.

04:47

What do you make of

04:48

how the judge here, Judge

04:49

John Mershon,

04:50

didn't include himself

04:51

or his family in the gag order

04:56

Yeah, I understand why

04:57

he wouldn't do that.

04:58

I mean, again,

04:59

I think we cannot make ourselves

05:02

a part of the case.

05:03

I mean, obviously,

05:04

we are a part of the case

05:06

because we're

05:07

presiding over the proceeding,

05:09

but we can't make the case

05:11

in the issue about us.

05:13

And that can be very difficult

05:15

but it comes with the territory.

05:17

I mean, first and foremost,

05:18

when we take the oath of office,

05:20

we have an obligation

05:21

to make sure

05:22

that all parties

05:23

in our courtroom

05:24

receive a fair adjudication

05:26

regardless of who they are,

05:27

what their politics are, or what

05:29

they've alleged to have done.

05:30

And therefore,

05:31

I think it's crucial that judges

05:33

not make themselves a part of the issue.

05:35

So I think the judge did the right thing

05:38

by not including himself

05:40

in the gag order.

05:41

You're someone who

05:43

has always been

05:43

really straightforward in your assessment

05:46

of the former president.

05:47

If you read

05:48

your comments

05:49

when you're

05:50

when you're sentencing people,

05:51

when you're when you're in these cases,

05:53

you once referred to him as a charlatan.

05:55

At the sentencing

05:55

of a January 6th defendant.

05:56

I know you've gotten a lot of those cases

05:58

before you.

05:59

You said that

05:59

you don't think he cares about democracy,

06:01

only power

06:03

that you once seemed

06:04

to suggest you didn't

06:05

you weren't sure he'd accept defeat

06:07

if you lost in this election.

06:10

Do you still feel that way tonight?

06:15

You know, I'd rather not comment on that.

06:16

I mean, I've made those

06:18

you know, the comments

06:19

I've made in the context of the sentences

06:21

I impose because I'm hoping

06:24

that what I say

06:26

to the individuals who are in sentencing

06:28

will resonate with them

06:30

and caused them to rethink

06:31

the activity that they engaged in

06:33

that brought them before the court

06:34

and hopefully deter them

06:36

from engaging in further conduct

06:38

of that nature in the future.

06:40

Have you been

06:41

on the receiving end of more threats

06:42

since you've had the January 6th

06:44

defendants in your court

06:47

Yes, I've had more

06:48

threats than what used to be the case.

06:51

Yes,

06:51

I have received

06:52

a greater number of threats

06:55

as a result of that incident.

06:57

And the fact that cases

06:58

are arising out of that incident

07:01

have ever appeared before me.

07:04

I mean, it was rare.

07:05

I've been a judge for over 40 years and

07:09

this is a new phenomenon.

07:10

I'm not saying that

07:11

it didn't happen before,

07:12

but it was very rare

07:13

that I would ever receive

07:15

any type of a threat, regardless

07:16

of what type of cases I was handling.

07:19

And unfortunately, that is no longer

07:22

the case.

07:23

I know the Marshal Service

07:25

has seen a significant increase

07:26

in the number of threats against judges,

07:29

and I think obviously that's very, very,

07:32

very concerning.

07:34

You know,

07:35

it's rare that we

07:36

get to hear here

07:37

from a sitting federal judge,

07:39

but obviously

07:39

this is a gravely important issue.

07:41

I wonder what made you

07:43

speak out tonight and speak publicly

07:47

Well, you know,

07:48

I am concerned

07:49

because, like I say, we have had judges

07:52

who've lost their lives or family members

07:54

have lost their lives

07:56

as a result of individuals

07:58

who have been litigants

08:00

in their courtroom.

08:01

And I think it's important

08:03

in order to preserve our democracy

08:06

that we maintain

08:07

the rule of law

08:08

and the rule that the rule of law

08:09

can only be maintained

08:11

if we have independent

08:13

judicial officers

08:14

who are able to do their job and ensure

08:16

that the laws are, in fact, enforced

08:19

and that the laws are

08:21

applied equally to everybody

08:22

who appears in our courthouse.

08:24

And I think it's important

08:26

that as judges, we speak out and,

08:29

you know,

08:30

say things

08:31

in reference to things that conceivably

08:33

are going to impact on the process,

08:34

because if we

08:35

don't have a viable court system

08:37

that's able to function efficiently,

08:39

then we have tyranny.

08:41

And I don't think that would be good

08:43

for the future of our country

08:44

and the future of democracy

08:45

in our country.

08:47

Senior Judge Reggie

08:48

Walton, it's great to talk to you.

08:50

Thank you for joining us here

08:51

on The Source today.

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العلامات ذات الصلة
JudicialThreatsRuleOfLawReggieWaltonDonaldTrumpFairTrialJudicialIndependencePoliticalInterferenceLawEnforcementCourtSafetyLegalSystem
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