Seeking to disqualify a judge is a challenging and precarious move — one that, if it fails (which it often does), runs the risk of annoying the person granted the power to make critical decisions in the case.
Mr. Trump’s lawyers filed their recusal motion two weeks ago, after Judge Chutkan handed them a significant defeat by scheduling the trial for March, much earlier than they had requested, but before they had filed any substantive motions to attack the charges Mr. Trump is facing.
A judge’s decision to remain on a case is generally not subject to an immediate appeal — though Mr. Trump’s lawyers could in theory try.
Judge Chutkan’s ruling not to disqualify herself came as she considers a potentially significant development in the case: whether to grant the government’s request to impose a gag order on Mr. Trump’s public statements about the case.
In asking Judge Chutkan to step aside, Mr. Trump’s lawyers cited statements she had made about the former president at hearings for two defendants facing sentencing for crimes they committed on Jan. 6.
Persons:
Judge Chutkan, Trump, Judge Chutkan’s, Christine Priola, Robert Palmer, ”
Organizations:
Capitol, ”
Locations:
Cleveland, Florida