A federal judge’s decision to set a trial date of March 4, 2024, in the 2020 election case involving former President Donald Trump has drawn criticism from legal experts who suggest it may risk violating his due process rights, according to the Daily Caller News Foundation.
U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan, an Obama appointee, scheduled the trial just a day before Super Tuesday, prompting Trump to label it “election interference” in a post on Truth Social. Trump vowed to appeal this decision, although experts note that the trial date itself is generally not appealable beforehand.
Prosecutors initially sought a January 2, 2024, trial date, while Trump’s legal team pushed for a delay until April 2026, arguing that an earlier date would deprive Trump of adequate time to prepare for trial. The crux of the issue lies in the extensive discovery process, with “millions of pages” of materials to be examined by Trump’s legal team.
John Malcolm, vice president of the Heritage Foundation’s Institute for Constitutional Government and a former deputy assistant attorney general in the Department of Justice’s Criminal Division, emphasized the importance of Trump’s due process rights. He stated, “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.”
While the trial date itself may not be appealable, Malcolm pointed out that if Trump were to be convicted, he could raise the issue of being deprived of his due process rights and effective assistance of counsel on appeal due to the extensive discovery process and expedited trial schedule.
During the hearing, Trump’s lawyers echoed similar concerns, asserting that Trump deserved a well-prepared defense. They pointed to the vast volume of documents, approximately 12.8 million, turned over by prosecutors, which posed a significant challenge for the defense.
John Shu, an attorney and legal commentator who served in previous administrations, acknowledged that while the March 4, 2024, trial date might encroach on Trump’s rights, it was unlikely to be successfully appealed. District court judges typically have substantial discretion over trial calendars and discovery disputes.
Shu also noted that there were legal avenues, such as motions, that could potentially delay the trial date, although not to the extent requested by Trump’s attorneys, who sought a postponement until April 2026.
Trump is facing multiple legal challenges, including indictments related to his alleged efforts to overturn the 2020 election. He has pleaded not guilty to all four felony charges in the special counsel Jack Smith’s 2020 election probe. In addition to the D.C. case, Trump is also facing indictments in Florida, New York, and Georgia.
His trial for mishandling classified documents is scheduled in Florida for May 20, 2024, and a trial for falsifying business records is set in New York for March 30, 2024. The trial date for his Georgia case, where he faces charges related to efforts to overturn the 2020 election, has not been scheduled definitively, with various proposed dates being considered.
