this post was submitted on 18 Jan 2024
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"Glaringly obvious" incompetence on display as judge tells jury to "disregard everything Ms. Habba just said"

Trump lawyer Alina Habba struggled through her cross-examination of E. Jean Carroll on Wednesday.

U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan, who is overseeing the defamation case against the former president, repeatedly admonished the attorney for running afoul of his court rules and general procedures.

Prior to Carroll’s testimony, Habba requested an adjournment so that Trump could attend his mother-in-law’s funeral.

“The application is denied. I will hear no further argument on it. None. Do you understand that word? None. Please sit down,” Kaplan, a Bill Clinton appointee, told Habba about the motion that he already denied.

Kaplan repeatedly interrupted Habba’s questions, including when she began to read from a document that had not been formally entered into evidence, sending the trial to a recess.

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[–] dhork@lemmy.world 123 points 9 months ago (2 children)

She's being this incompetent on purpose, so that when actual lawyers start to point out all the obvious flaws in her work, she and her client can continue to complain about how the "Deep State" is biased against them. The more incompetent she is, and the more negative attention she gets, the more Trump's political supporters get behind him.

It doesn't even matter if she gets disbarred after this, all she has to do is bleach her hair and she has a guaranteed gig as a legal correspondent any of the Conservative Media outlets. They probably pay more, anyway.

[–] Telorand@reddthat.com 124 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago) (3 children)

I don't think it's on purpose, though I agree she'll go on to do grape [sic] things as a blonde muppet in the Conservative griftosphere. I read the transcripts yesterday, and based on her performance, she was using the questions to lead to:

  • A motion for mistrial
  • A motion for recusal

...both of which she attempted in this same fucking trial, like she thought she was Phoenix Wright. The best part, though, is when she objected to evidence presented. A paraphrase:

AH: Objection!

Judge: On what grounds?

AH: It's prejudiced.

Judge: Ms. Habba, all evidence presented by the plaintiff is going to be prejudiced. That's the nature of the evidence.

She literally tried the "because it's damaging to my case" defense! ROFL

[–] dhork@lemmy.world 49 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago) (3 children)

Right, you are evaluating her actions from the perspective of a lawyer who is trying to get the best outcome for their client within the legal framework of a trial. But that is not her goal.

Her goal is to make her client look like he's being persecuted. She doesn't care if her arguments are accepted by the judge. In fact, she would prefer the judge to go nuclear and lose his temper, because her client can use that to his advantage.

Trump is operating the same way. He practically begged the judge to throw him out of the courtroom. He got away with it because the judge understands exactly what Trump is doing. Trump would have used that expulsion to fundraise off of. He wants the courts mad at him, because he believes he can get votes out of it.

[–] Boddhisatva@lemmy.world 40 points 9 months ago (1 children)

Trump is operating the same way. He practically begged the judge to throw him out of the courtroom. He got away with it because the judge understands exactly what Trump is doing.

The judge and Trump literally had an exchange in court the other day confirming what you are saying.

"Mr. Trump, I hope I don’t have to consider excluding you from the trial.”

Trump threw his hands up in response.

“I understand you’re probably eager for me to do that,” Kaplan said.

Reporters in the courtroom heard Trump say, “I would love it.”

“I know you would,” Kaplan said.

[–] SinningStromgald@lemmy.world 6 points 9 months ago (3 children)

Can judges not order people to be gagged? I thought that was a thing?

[–] Jaysyn@kbin.social 12 points 9 months ago

Trump wants to play victim.

This judge is literally about to cancel Trump Co, down to the last overpriced building.

[–] Nightwingdragon@lemmy.world 2 points 9 months ago

The problem is that Trump has successfully turned any form of accountability into a campaigning and fundraising opportunity. Everybody insisted that his trials would sink his campaign, and they've done nothing but bolster it. His court appearances now are little more than glorified campaign rallies. And once Trump realized that not even court proceedings are enough to rattle his base, he has been exploiting that ever since.

He doesn't care about the outcome of this or any other trial any more, except for the SC case that would effectively remove him from the ballot. All he cares about is turning the court cases into circuses he can fundraise off of, and stalling for as long as possible until he wins a 2nd term in office and just makes all of it go away (Yes, even the state stuff, because he'd be in a position to say "you've made your decision, now let's see you enforce it.)

And the thing is, there's a non-zero chance he very well may get his wish

[–] Boddhisatva@lemmy.world -1 points 9 months ago (1 children)
[–] Arcane_Trixster@lemm.ee 3 points 9 months ago

Wealthy people. Broke White people get fucked by the courts too.

[–] Telorand@reddthat.com 15 points 9 months ago

I think it can be both. She's trying to throw the case out (because that eats into "valuable" campaigning time) and she's also trying to make a circus so they can claim persecution, both of which she is failing spectacularly at.

Ultimately, he'll lose no votes, but I'm not interested in that for this particular case. I want to see Trump get the book thrown at him for being a whiny little baby who pathologically can't stop defaming the person he raped.

[–] Jaysyn@kbin.social 12 points 9 months ago (1 children)

The judge is going to stay cool & keep handing Ms. Carroll cash, although I'd love to see Trump sitting in a jail cell till the end of this trial.

[–] littlebluespark@lemmy.world 2 points 9 months ago (2 children)

handing Ms. Carroll cash

Are we talking about the same assclown here?

[–] PM_Your_Nudes_Please@lemmy.world 5 points 9 months ago (1 children)

E. Jean Carroll is the victim who is suing Trump for defamation. She already won once, then he immediately jumped in front of a news camera and defamed her again. Since he’s physically incapable of keeping his mouth shut, she’ll keep getting money from him.

[–] littlebluespark@lemmy.world 1 points 9 months ago

Fair, though the phrasing is what I questioned: he's not handing over anything. It's being taken from him and awarded this specific victim. Let's not, by any stretch of our language, give him one iota of benefit to any doubt. 🤌🏼

[–] Jaysyn@kbin.social 4 points 9 months ago (1 children)

E. Jean Carroll is the victim that is currently using Trump like an ATM with no limit on withdrawals.

[–] littlebluespark@lemmy.world 1 points 9 months ago

Points A and B are not my concern, but the implication that the fetid fuckpuppet is somehow "handing" over his money at any point is. It's being taken from him, against his will, and deservedly so.

[–] Cylusthevirus@kbin.social 9 points 9 months ago (1 children)
[–] Jaysyn@kbin.social 6 points 9 months ago (1 children)

Let's be real, Ms. Piggy would judo chop the shit out of Habba.

[–] Cylusthevirus@kbin.social 9 points 9 months ago (1 children)

"There's only enough room on this show for ONE hot blond worried about gay frogs! HIIII-YAH!"

[–] Jaysyn@kbin.social 1 points 9 months ago

I heard that in her voice.

[–] Thrashy@lemmy.world 6 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago) (1 children)

This is a pretty good indicator of the quality of her legal guidance, in that she's halfway to a valid form of objection, but seems to have forgotten the other half of it. You are allowed to object to evidence or testimony that is more prejudicial (i.e. "the defendant was seen kicking puppies at the dog park on a weekly basis") than it is probative, meaning that ts useful in proving or disproving the allegations (the case was actually about a bank robbery not involving puppies at all). You can't just cry "prejudiced!" and expect the judge to go along with you.

[–] Telorand@reddthat.com 3 points 9 months ago

Trump's team also did themselves no favors by objecting out of turn, especially after he explicitly ordered "one witness, one lawyer" during a recess.

[–] ChihuahuaOfDoom@lemmy.world 28 points 9 months ago (1 children)

They probably pay more, anyway.

Certainly more than the $0.00 Trump will cough up.

[–] PM_Your_Nudes_Please@lemmy.world 2 points 9 months ago

I can guarantee she’s working on retainer. No lawyers will work for him without being paid up front.