Enrique Latoison, a highly-rated Delaware County criminal defense lawyer with extensive experience in a wide range of criminal cases, recently offered his expert legal commentary on NBC 10 News. The discussion centered around the upcoming trial of former President Donald Trump, scheduled for March 4, 2024, in Washington, D.C. Latoison provided invaluable insights into the intricacies of federal versus state legal systems, the issue of due process, and how this high-profile case could have ripple effects on both the legal and political landscape. Latoison Law is committed to representing clients in various criminal defense cases, including DUI, shoplifting, drug crimes, assault and battery, and homicide.
We now know when Donald Trump’s trial in Washington, D.C., will begin. The judge overseeing his election interference case has set the date for March 4. This will be the first of his four legal cases to go to court. NBC 10’s Lauren Mayk joins us live in the newsroom to discuss what this could mean.
Lauren? Well, Tracy, the calendar is getting crowded with both legal and political events. The date set is the day before Super Tuesday, one of the biggest days for political primaries. The judge in this federal case has now determined that it is the day to start jury selection for the trial against the former president.
Inside the federal courthouse in Washington, D.C., a decision has been made that could have both legal and political implications. Judge Tanya Chutkin set a date for former President Trump’s trial on charges of trying to hold onto power, obstructing the January 6 congressional proceeding, and overturning the 2020 election. She chose March 4, 2024. This is a little later than what the government asked for, but nearly two years earlier than what Trump’s defense team wanted.
“Does that seem quick to you, given what you’ve experienced in trials?”
“It does, because the federal system is different from the state system. Most of the time in the federal system, you get buried in a lot of discovery and receive a lot more documents than you typically do in a state case,” said Enrique L1 Latoison, a Delaware County defense attorney not involved in this case. He added that he’d be surprised if the trial date sticks. In court today, Trump’s attorney John Lauro stated that the trial date is “inconsistent with President Trump’s right to due process and the right to effective assistance of counsel.”
His attorneys appear to be laying the groundwork for an argument that they’re not prepared, and therefore, cannot provide their client, the former President of the United States, with an adequate professional defense.
The trial date is also set for the day before Super Tuesday, when more than a dozen states are scheduled to hold their primaries. The former president currently leads the field for the GOP nomination. However, now added to the political calendar are four legal cases, including one in Georgia where today Trump’s co-defendant, former White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows, testified. Meadows is attempting to move the Georgia case, which charges him and the former president with conspiracy to overturn the state’s 2020 election results, to federal court. Today on the stand, Meadows described his job as White House Chief of Staff as a 24/7 role and said that meetings with Pennsylvania and Michigan legislators, as mentioned in the indictment, were part of that role.
“His attorneys and he probably sat down with a checklist and decided what would be more beneficial. They have obviously concluded that having the case in federal court would be better for him and for their defense,” said Latoison.
Related: Enrique Latoison commentary on Trump’s 34 felony charges.
On that special counsel case in Washington, D.C., a Trump campaign spokesperson today released a statement saying that the date chosen “deprives President Trump of his constitutional right to a fair trial.” On social media, former President Trump said he would appeal.
Live in the newsroom, I’m Lauren Mayk, NBC 10 News.
Contact Enrique Latoison
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