{"id":2260351,"date":"2024-06-05T11:45:10","date_gmt":"2024-06-05T15:45:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/trump-florida-judge-allows-legal-scholars-to-debate-legality-of-special-counsel\/"},"modified":"2024-06-05T11:49:48","modified_gmt":"2024-06-05T15:49:48","slug":"trump-florida-judge-allows-legal-scholars-to-debate-legality-of-special-counsel","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/trump-florida-judge-allows-legal-scholars-to-debate-legality-of-special-counsel\/","title":{"rendered":"Florida Judge Allows Legal Experts to Discuss Legality of Special Counsel at Trump&#8217;s Request"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">28<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Ftrump-florida-judge-allows-legal-scholars-to-debate-legality-of-special-counsel%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2260351&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The federal judge overseeing Donald Trump&#8217;s Florida case\u200b on classified documents allows legal scholars to debate Jack \u200bSmith&#8217;s appointment as \u200bspecial counsel. \u2064Judge Aileen Cannon grants each \u2063expert 30 minutes to\u2063 argue for or against Smith&#8217;s appointment&#8217;s \u2062constitutionality. The debate is part of Trump&#8217;s legal efforts to dismiss \u200ca 40-count indictment. Prominent scholars and attorneys are involved in \u2063the discussions. Hunter Biden&#8217;s case also highlights similar concerns about special counsels&#8217; \u200cappointments.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<div>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/elizabeth-holmes-jury-says-its-deadlocked-on-3-of-11-criminal-charges-in-theranos-fraud-trial\/\" title=\"Elizabeth Holmes Jury Says It\u2019s Deadlocked on 3 of 11 Criminal Charges in Theranos Fraud Trial\">federal judge presiding<\/a> over former President <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Donald Trump<\/a>\u2018s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/florida\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Florida<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/doj-asks-supreme-court-to-reject-trump-request-in-fbi-classified-documents-case\/\" title=\"DOJ Asks Supreme Court to Reject Trump Request in FBI Classified Documents Case\">classified documents case<\/a> will allow legal scholars to participate in oral arguments for and against the constitutionality of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/jack-smith\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Jack Smith<\/a>\u2018s appointment as special counsel.<\/p>\n<p>U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon <a href=\"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/docket\/67490070\/united-states-v-trump\/?filed_after=&#038;filed_before=&#038;entry_gte=&#038;entry_lte=&#038;order_by=desc\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"said\">said<\/a> in an order Tuesday that she would allow 30 minutes for each legal scholar to present their arguments at a June 21 hearing about why Smith may or may not have been legally appointed by the Justice Department. The hearing is part of Trump\u2019s broader effort to dismiss the 40-count indictment accusing him of willful retention of classified records and efforts to obstruct the federal government\u2019s retrieval.<\/p>\n<figure><figcaption>Former President Donald Trump, left, is <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/the-big-guy-says-hunter-has-done-nothing-wrong\/\" title=\"Big guy defends Hunter's innocence.\">facing criminal charges related<\/a> to his alleged mishandling of classified documents. U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon, right, a Trump appointee, is receiving criticism over her handling of the case. (Associated Press)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Experts arguing in favor of and against Trump\u2019s position include South Texas College of Law professor Josh Blackman; attorney Gene Schaerr, a former clerk to Justice Antonin Scalia representing ex-Bush and Reagan administration U.S. Attorneys General Michael Mukasey and Edwin Meese; and Matthew Seligman, an attorney representing an anti-Trump coalition of constitutional attorneys and former <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/you-are-our-champion-novak-djokovic-gets-heros-welcome-in-serbia\/\" title=\"'You Are Our Champion': Novak Djokovic Gets Hero\u2019s Welcome in Serbia\">ranking government officials<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Cannon previously allowed the experts to file amicus or \u201cfriend of the court\u201d briefs for and against Trump\u2019s motions to dismiss. In May, she allowed nonparties to the case to request access to participate in oral argument at the hearing so long as they made requests by Monday.<\/p>\n<p>Blackman will represent Landmark Legal Foundation and law professor Seth Barrett Tillman to <a href=\"https:\/\/storage.courtlistener.com\/recap\/gov.uscourts.flsd.648653\/gov.uscourts.flsd.648653.590.0.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"argue\">argue<\/a> Smith is not an \u201cofficer of the United States\u201d but rather an \u201cemployee\u201d whose \u201cappointment is inconsistent with the separation of powers and political accountability.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Schaerr will provide the argument that the special counsel is a \u201cprincipal officer\u201d whose appointment by Attorney General Merrick Garland should require a Senate confirmation.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSmith does not have authority to prosecute this case,\u201d <a href=\"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/docket\/67490070\/598\/united-states-v-trump\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>according<\/a> to a brief submitted by a coalition of law professors and the group Citizens United, on which Schaerr will be basing his argument. \u201cThose actions can be taken only by persons properly appointed as federal officers to properly created federal offices.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Finally, Seligman will be the one dissenting voice arguing in favor of Smith, contending his \u201cappointment Congress may vest in the Attorney General,\u201d and who still answers to, and may be removed by, Garland despite his independent role. Several prominent legal minds are behind this argument, including Watergate-era prosecutor Philip Lacovara, Harvard Law School professor emeritus Laurence Tribe, and lawyer and Trump critic George Conway, among others.<\/p>\n<p>Notably, Hunter Biden, President Joe Biden\u2019s son, sought to make a similar argument about an improperly appointed special counsel in his <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/no-hunter-bidens-trial-does-not-exonerate-americas-two-tiered-justice-system\/\" title=\"Hunter Biden's trial does not clear America's two-tiered justice system\">criminal gun case<\/a> before it went to trial this week. The younger Biden\u2019s attorney said that special counsel David Weiss \u201cwas unlawfully appointed \u2026 and Congress has not appropriated funds for the Special Counsel\u2019s investigation or this prosecution.\u201d U.S. District Judge Maryellen Noreika, a Trump appointee weighing the first son\u2019s case, declined his efforts to dismiss the case under this theory.<\/p>\n<p>Between Hunter Biden\u2019s firearms case and his indictment for alleged tax crimes, as well as Trump\u2019s separate criminal case brought by Smith, all four cases have involved defense attorneys raising constitutional concerns about the appointments of both special counsels. Cannon\u2019s decision marks the first time out of the four cases that a federal judge will allow outside parties to state their arguments about the legality of the special counsel.<\/p>\n<p>Trump last week was found guilty in the New York criminal hush money case brought by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, an elected Democrat. Since then, Republican allies have pushed the notion that the Biden administration is attempting to undercut the leading GOP nominee through the various criminal cases against him, which include the risk of jail time or some other form of detention. The former president\u2019s sentencing in Manhattan is scheduled for July 11.<\/p>\n<p>Cannon\u2019s order came on the same day Garland testified to the House Judiciary Committee as Republicans grilled him about what they see as the \u201cweaponization\u201d of justice against Trump as he faces four criminal indictments while seeking reelection.<\/p>\n<p>Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) pressed Garland directly about Smith\u2019s appointment to oversee the classified documents case and a separate investigation and indictment involving Trump\u2019s alleged effort to subvert the 2020 election.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhat gives you the authority to appoint a special counsel to create \u2026 you\u2019ve created an office in the U.S. government that does not exist\u00a0without authorization from Congress,\u201d Massie said to Garland.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Garland argued that special counsel appointments that he and other attorneys general, including former Attorney General William Barr, have made cite a regulation that points to a statute.<\/p>\n<p>However, Massie pushed back on the attorney general, saying even if it did not require an act of Congress to appoint Smith, \u201cyou\u2019ve already admitted that there was no act of Congress that established this office, it would still require, according to the Constitution, a nomination by the President and confirmation by the Senate.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In the Florida case involving classified documents linked to former President Donald Trump, Judge Aileen Cannon permits legal scholars to debate Jack Smith&#8217;s appointment as special counsel. Each expert will have 30 minutes to argue for or against the constitutionality of the appointment<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2633,"featured_media":2260352,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/MixCollage-05-Apr-2024-11-22-AM-2166-1024x594.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[538],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2260351","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-washington-examiner"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/MixCollage-05-Apr-2024-11-22-AM-2166-1024x594.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2260351","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2633"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2260351"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2260351\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2260352"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2260351"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2260351"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2260351"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}