Judge says there was no option for jury in Trump’s fraud case: ‘Nobody forgot to check off a box’

[Kamaji]

Judge says there was no option for jury in Trump’s fraud case: ‘Nobody forgot to check off a box’

By Priscilla DeGregory
Published Oct. 11, 2023

A Manhattan judge said Wednesday there was no option for former President Donald Trump to have a jury trial in the $250 million civil fraud case against him.

“We are having a non-jury trial because we are hearing a non-jury case,” Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Arthur Engoron said at the seventh day of trial against Trump, according to ABC News.

Alina Habba, a lawyer for Trump, 77, said during opening statements last week that her client wanted a jury to oversee the case against him.

And Trump — who was present for the first three days of the trial last week — said in front of the press and on his social media platform Truth Social multiple times that it was unfair he couldn’t have a jury in the case.

Engoron said it wouldn’t have mattered if Trump’s team had checked a box on a legal form requesting a jury, or even if he’d made a motion for one, because the judge would have shot down any such request.

New York Attorney General Letitia James, who is prosecuting the lawsuit, brought the case seeking “equitable” relief, which does not allow for a jury trial, Engoron explained — validating comments Habba also made in the press.

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Source:  https://nypost.com/2023/10/11/judge-says-trump-fraud-trial-wouldnt-have-been-jury-eligible/

[sneakypete]

So,Trump is to be found guilty and sentenced to death  by a TOTALLY impartial judge,who just happens to be the same judge putting him on trial?

He is clearly "guilty until found innocent" by this TOTALLY  unbiased judge.

[Kamaji]

So,Trump is to be found guilty and sentenced to death  by a TOTALLY impartial judge,who just happens to be the same judge putting him on trial?

He is clearly "guilty until found innocent".

No. 

[Maj. Bill Martin]

My understanding of this is that the law is murky and hasn't been applied very often.  One appellate case holding that equitable relief was sought so no jury, but the only way to challenge that is to ask for the jury so you can appeal it.

If you don't ask, you can't appeal.