In 2022, Justice Juan Manuel Merchan presided over the tax-fraud trial that resulted in the conviction of Allen Weisselberg, the top financial officer of the Trump Organization.
The judge presiding over Donald Trump’s hush-money case is familiar with the antics the former president brings to court.
Legally speaking, the two parties have met before.
Even though he has been a judge for more than 16 years, this will be by far the most prominent case to enter his courtroom.
The New York County Supreme Court judge is also presiding over a criminal case against the former president’s close ally, Steve Bannon, who has been accused with fraud and money laundering in relation to a nonprofit that was supposed to help build a border wall.
Mr. Trump stated on his social media platform Truth Social on Friday, prior to his own court date, claiming Judge Merchan “HATES ME.”
Mr. Trump, who is accused of paying hush money to a former pornographic actress, has denied any wrongdoing.
After graduating from Hofstra University’s School of Law in 1994, Justice Merchan began his legal profession. Before becoming deputy assistant attorney general in Nassau County in 1999, he spent several years in the New York County District Attorney’s Office.
After serving as an assistant attorney general in both Nassau and Suffolk counties, he was appointed to the bench in the Bronx County Family Court in 2006.
Since 2009, he has served as a judge on the New York County Supreme Court, hearing over criminal cases.
Ron Kuby, a Manhattan defense attorney, told NBC News that the judge is “serious, intelligent, and calm.”
“He is not one of those judges that yells at attorneys and is known as a judge with no nonsense. Nonetheless, he is always in charge of the courtroom.”
Judge Merchan was categorical a year ago in the lawsuit against the Trump Organization that the allegations were in no way politically motivated.
The organization’s attorney attempted to argue that Mr. Weisselberg was being targeted due to his affiliation with the previous president.
Justice Merchan stated that the argument lacked validity.
According to the BBC’s news partner CBS, Merchan stated,
“I will not permit you to make any claims of selective prosecution or that this is a novel prosecution.”
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