Law, Power, and Justice

TUESDAY 28 MAY 2024

TUESDAY MORNING NEWS NOTES

TRUMP TRIAL: CNN

• The defense is saying they are going to do a 4.5 hour closing.  All the commentators on TV say this is crazy.  The jurors have already made up their minds by this time. 
• Trump has been fuming over the weekend about not being able to use the legal advice argument.  Trump wanted to argue that he was at the mercy of lawyers telling him this was oK.
• (Note: The titmice are having a good breakfast.  The squirrel girls haven’t shown up yet this morning.  The cats (8 of them) are back iside from their morning walk all except Errol Flynn who is sitting on the front porch with his dad having guy time.  This happens every morning.  Mike has a great deal more appreciation for their obsession with schedule than I do.  I tend to not be a scheduled person.  Cats don’t like deviation from routine.)
• There is a psychology to closing arguments.  If you go on too long, it appears that you don’t have confidence in your case.  You hit the points and get out.
• (Note: Well the first of the squirrel girls has shown up.  We have the best fed squirrels in the country.  I think every squirrel identifies our squirrels: “Look at her.  she must be one of those Johns/Duggan squirrels.  Just look at that coat, shiny and the curves, oh my.  And, the Johns/Duggan squirrels have no parasites.  They have great immune systems cause they eat all the time.”  “I also heard that their next-door neighbors just throw seeds on the ground.”  “You’re kidding.”
• Blanche is arguing that what Trump was doing was “standard operating procedure.”  (Note: Of course it was.  It’s what Trump has been doing all his life, lying, cheating, and getting away with it.)
• Blanche: “This is an election.  This is not a crime.”
• What you are doing in closing is “arming the jurors,” you are providing them with arguments they can use in argument in the jury room.  (Note: If you are providing so much detail, no juror can remember it to use in the jury room.  I think these jurors do not have exhibits in the room with them.  If they ask for them, the documents or the testimony is read to them?)
• Blanche:  “It’s how you try to win elections.”  (Note: Jesus, what an argument.)