Lessons From Trump’s Trial

This week, some of the news from former President' Trump’s fraud trial in New York caught my eye. Now, before you click away for whatever reason, know that this post isn’t about Trump, his politics, or the merits of the charges against him. That doesn’t interest me and neither does your opinion of him. Because there is something else from his trial that I want to talk about.

I want to talk about the judge angrily scolding Trump and his attorneys. After court recessed, one of his attorneys said that he slammed his fist, yelled, and dismissed her objections. The response to her comments demonstrated that this is not a unique experience for trial attorneys, with many saying it happens commonly.

Yet many pointed that fact out, then stopped the conversation. Maybe this is how it happens far too often. After all, judges have considerable power and discretion within their own courtroom. The problem is that too few out there raised the question of whether or not this behavior should happen.

Attorney mental health concerns are a real problem. And that problem is not helped by judges who verbally thrash the attorneys appearing before them when displeased by the attorney, the client, or both. Some old timers might respond by saying that is just how it works and if you can’t handle it you should get out of litigation. But again, just because that is how it has been done in the past doesn’t mean it is how it should happen moving forward. Everyone who appears in a court of law is entitled to be treated with more respect than that.

The LegalMind Society hopes that more and more people can start raising these issues and can start holding judges accountable.