Judge in Trump’s Hush Money Case Faces Intense Preparation
NEW YORK (AP) — Judge Juan M. Merchan looked across his high-ceilinged courtroom, facing the defendant in a complicated case. Not the one everyone knows about.
Yes, Merchan could become the first judge ever to oversee a former U.S. president’s criminal trial: Donald Trump’s hush money case. But on a recent morning, the judge was attending to a much less conspicuous case in Manhattan’s once-weekly Mental Health Court, where selected mentally ill offenders agree to closely monitored treatment in hopes of getting charges dismissed and their lives on track.
As Merchan talked with defendants about their progress, stumbles, jobs, families and even workouts, it was a far cry from the upcoming trial in which Trump will be at the defense table, but the judge also will be in a hot seat.
Harsh Backlash and Delays
The ex-president and presumptive Republican nominee has called Merchan a “Trump-hating” judge, and defense lawyers unsuccessfully asked him to exit the case. Merchan received dozens of death threats after Trump slammed him on social media last year.
Ten days before jury selection was to start, Merchan on Friday postponed the trial until at least mid-April because of a last-minute evidence dump. He scheduled a March 25 hearing on next steps.
Preparation for the Historic Trial
Merchan wouldn’t talk about the case last week but allowed that getting ready for the historic trial is “intense.” He is striving to make sure that everything is prepared and that justice is dispensed, emphasizing his confidence in court staffers.
“There’s no agenda here,” he said. “We want to follow the law. We want justice to be done.”
The Path to Trump’s Case
Born in Colombia, Merchan emigrated as a 6-year-old and grew up in New York. His legal career spans from being a state lawyer and Manhattan prosecutor to serving as a family court judge in 2006. He has presided over various criminal cases, including murder, rape, fraud, and disability fraud.
Merchan has faced the spotlight in recent years with cases involving Trump, his company, and Allen Weisselberg, its former longtime finance chief. In regard to Trump’s case, the former president’s lawyers allege that Merchan has “preconceived bias” and was involved in strong-arming Weisselberg into the plea deal.
Furthermore, Trump’s lawyers have brought up Merchan’s daughter’s political consultancy association with the Democratic party, as well as his donation to Democratic causes, to question his impartiality. However, a state court ethics panel has opined that Merchan can continue on the case, to which the judge has assured he can be fair and impartial.
Steadfast and Commanding
Throughout the proceedings, Merchan has maintained a mannerly but firm formality. Lawyers and observers describe him as self-confident, commandful, and fair. He has shown his commitment to justice while overseeing cases involving individuals with mental health issues and veterans.
Merchan reserved Wednesdays for mental health court, which he has been overseeing since its establishment in 2011, and a veterans’ docket which he took on in 2019. Despite the intense preparation for Trump’s case, he continues to serve and support those in the mental health court, respecting and nurturing each individual’s progress towards rehabilitation and a better future.
As the trial against Trump approaches, all eyes will be on Judge Juan Merchan as he endeavors to navigate the challenges ahead and ensure a fair trial for all parties involved.