‘This Argument is Over!’ Trump Lawyer Alina Habba Gets Scolded By Judge Just Minutes Into New Trial

Donald Trump lawyer Alina Habba clashed with Judge Lewis Kaplan right from the get-go in the latest proceeding on the former president’s liability from the E. Jean Carroll case.

Trump is back in a New York courthouse Tuesday morning for jury selection and opening statements for the start of a civil trial from Carroll’s defamation lawsuit against him. The trial will determine how much Trump will have to pay Carroll in damages after he was already found liable for sexually abusing the columnist and being ordered to pay her $5 million.

CNN reports that Kaplan and Habba got into it when the judge refused her request for the trial to be postponed so Trump can attend his mother-in-law’s funeral. When Habba demanded the trial be temporarily adjourned so Trump could be present for it later, she and Kaplan got into it — as the judge refuted her claims and told her the trial’s procedure has been established. Judge Kaplan added that he will not  hear any more arguments from her on the subject:

From CNN:

“When the ruling is made that is the end not the beginning of argument,” Kaplan said at one point — perhaps as a nod to the lengthy arguments Judge Arthur Engoron allowed in Trump’s recent New York civil fraud trial.

Habba requested the judge grant an adjournment Thursday, so Trump does not have to decide whether to be in court at trial or at his mother-in-law’s funeral.

“I am asking you, sir, now for a one-day adjournment of this trial” Thursday to “allow my clients to be there so that he can be present for every day of this trial as he has a right to be,” Habba said.

“I am not stopping him from being there,” Kaplan said.

“No, you’re stopping him from being here, Your Honor,” Habba responded.

“The argument is over,” Kaplan said, declining to change his previous ruling.

Opening statements are expected from the trial after the jury selection is complete.