It's bad enough that former President Donald Trump will have a trial date the day before "Super Tuesday" next March, which will undoubtedly interfere with the week leading up to the critical GOP primary voting day.
However, according to legal experts, the March 4, 2024 trial date is even worse for Trump and his defense team, as it will likely "deprive him of his right to due process."
The Daily Caller reported that John Malcolm, vice president for the Heritage Foundation’s Institute for Constitutional Government and former deputy assistant attorney general in the DOJ’s Criminal Division, has raised concerns over the date, noting that it'll be a challenge, to say the least, for the defense to review the materials for the trial.
Some 12 million documents have been turned over to the court as evidence, which Trump's legal team will need to review in just a handful of months.
“This is a totally unfair violation of President Trump’s due process and the duty of the attorney to prepare for this case.”
Attorney Paul Kamenar dropped the hammer on Judge Chutkan for scheduling Pres. Trump’s trial on March 4, 2024. 👇https://t.co/oMXYS67laW
— Daniel Baldwin (@baldwin_daniel_) August 28, 2023
Trump and his legal team originally requested a spring 2026 trial date to provide reasonable and adequate time to review the mountains of evidence in the indictment.
"Donald Trump, like every other defendant in a criminal case, is entitled to due process and effective assistance of counsel, which includes having an adequate amount of time and opportunity to review the evidence and consult with his attorneys in a meaningful fashion," Malcom told the Daily Caller.
How many of you have been required to read 12 million documents in seven months. Trump’s attorneys, please appeal the idiotic March 4, 2024 trial date. You have an excellent due process argument! #TRUMP2024ToSaveAmerica
— LeoTerrell (@TheLeoTerrell) August 29, 2023
U.S. District Judge for the District of Columbia Tanya Chutkan stirred headlines last week when she set the trial date.
For his part, Trump has used Truth Social to blast Chutkan and the prosecutors on the case, calling it a clear-cut case of "election interference."
The Daily Caller noted that Trump's lawyers will likely not be able to appeal the March 4 date.
Judge: Trial will commence March 4, 2024
John Lauro stands to argue "That trial date is inconsistent with President Trump's right to due process"
Judge: "your objection is noted for the record" https://t.co/GakhgCaKOZ
— Weaver95 🍔🍟 (@weaverXP) August 28, 2023
In addition to the March 4 trial date for the Jack Smith-led indictment regarding the 2020 election, two additional trial dates have been set for March 30 and May 20, which cover the New York indictment and the Mar-a-Lago classified records indictment, respectively.
A date has not been set for his Georgia indictment regarding his alleged actions after the 2020 election.