Outrage mounted Tuesday after Florida federal court Judge Aileen Cannon ruled to indefinitely delay former President Donald Trump's classified documents case.
Cannon's newest ruling vacates Trump's May 20 trial date without setting another, arguing it would be "imprudent" to do so with multiple pre-trial motions pending, court records show.
This decision was met with shock by political experts who took to social media to decry what they interpreted as Cannon's pro-Trump bias.
"Aileen Cannon has INDEFINITELY postponed Trump’s trial with NO new date in sight," replied political strategist Lindy Li. "Our judiciary has been HIJACKED by backstabbing TRAITORS."
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Former prosecutor Joyce Vance took a more measured tone in her response, but also made the case this is a legal battle Cannon does not want to face.
"Judge Cannon seems desperate to avoid trying this case," Vance wrote. "This isn't justice. defendants aren't the only ones with speedy trial act rights, we the people have them too."
Cannon set the next status conference for July 22, 2024. It could be months before Cannon sets a new trial date.
Former federal prosecutor Harry Litman replied with succinct disgust.
"Ugh. meanwhile in the Twilight Zone Judge Cannon inches along -- one inch forward, two inches back," Litman wrote. "Don't forget--this is the strongest, most cut-and-dried case out there and she is singlehandedly seeing to its glacial progress."
MSNBC legal analyst Lisa Rubin argued Cannon had just made official what most experts had already guessed was true.
"Judge Cannon finally says what has been obvious to every legal journalist I know," Rubin said. "She’s not just canceling the existing trial date; she’s also not picking a replacement."
Palm Beach County State Attorney Dave Aronberg argued Cannon's ruling was a win for special counsel Jack Smith, who has also brought election interference charges against Trump in Washington D.C. federal court.
"This trial was never going to happen before the election," Aronberg argued. "Now that it’s off the calendar, the DC election interference case can proceed as soon as (or IF) the Supreme Court gives the green light."
Elie Mystal, Justice correspondent for the Nation, offered a piece of advice: "The thing about picking your own judge is: it works."