‘Disrespect For the Jury is Unwise’: Legal Commentator Shreds Trump’s Courtroom Behavior

(AP Photo/Paul Sancya, File)

Former President Donald Trump raised eyebrows from legal commentators this week for some of his behavior inside and outside the courtroom – including for apparently disrespecting the potential jurors.

Tyler McBrien, the managing editor of Lawfare, noted on Thursday, “A pool reporter notes that, curiously, ‘when the defense is introduced to the potential jurors seated in the audience, Trump does not stand up like his legal team does to turn and face them.’”

Legal commentator Renato Mariotti, who often offers his insights on CNN, reacted to McBrien’s tweet and noted how rare such a move is from a defendant.

“In my over 20 years practicing criminal law, I have never observed a defendant refuse to stand and face the jury,” Mariotti wrote, adding:

Any competent lawyer would tell their client that his fate is in the jury’s hands and they will watch everything he does.

Trump’s disrespect for the jury is unwise.

The judge has already scolded Trump in the case for gesturing and muttering at a potential juror and he is under a gag order barring him from publicly attacking or trying to intimidate them. Trump on Thursday shared a clip from Fox News that may have violated that gag order as the clip accused “liberal activists” of trying to “infiltrate” the jury.

Seven jurors had been seated so far this week during jury selection, but two were dismissed on Thursday. Juror number 2 was dismissed after she voiced concern that her identity would be discovered and she was unsure if she could be impartial. The judge later ordered the press to be more careful in reporting specific details about the jurors and to make an effort to protect their anonymity.

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