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Jonathan Turley: Judge Merchan Just Gave the Jury a 'Coup de Grace Instruction' Against Trump
Twitchy ^ | 05/29/2024

Posted on 05/29/2024 9:43:53 AM PDT by SeekAndFind

George Washington University law professor Jonathan Turley has been following the trial of Donald Trump in Manhattan closely. Yesterday Turley pretty much considered the prosecution's closing arguments to be a dumpster fire and also has been far from impressed by Judge Juan Merchan's handling of the trial:

...The fraud instruction alone is so generalized that it would seem to encompass any claim that the defendant sought to influence the election through his actions. Merchan has done little to tailor standard instructions for this novel and frankly troubling case...— Jonathan Turley (@JonathanTurley) May 28, 2024

This morning Judge Merchan is delivering instructions to the jury before they begin deliberations. Turley spotted one completely outrageous instruction: 

...Merchan just delivered the coup de grace instruction. He said that there is no need to agree on what occurred. They can disagree on what the crime was among the three choices. Thus, this means that they could split 4-4-4 and he will still treat them as unanimous...— Jonathan Turley (@JonathanTurley) May 29, 2024

On Fox News a little while ago, Andy McCarthy called that instruction from the judge to the jury "really outrageous."

Merchan should be in prison for the unnatural crimes he’s committing against the rule of law. https://t.co/FwXWTFIFaW— Sean Davis (@seanmdav) May 29, 2024

That's even more fuel for a possible Trump appeal.

This is called “appealable error.” https://t.co/rSXRr8fvP2— Adam Lawson (@cigarsandlegs) May 29, 2024

Nope, nothing to see here!

The judge seems to be working hard to get invited to a cocktail party at Robert De Niro's place, but we'll see how this all turns out. Stay tuned!



TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Government; News/Current Events; US: New York
KEYWORDS: hushmoney; judgemerchan; jury; merchan; trymp
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1 posted on 05/29/2024 9:43:53 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
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To: SeekAndFind

Merchan just introduced a Rank-Choice Verdict system, that matches the Rank-Choice voting scheme.


2 posted on 05/29/2024 9:45:10 AM PDT by JonPreston ( ✌ ☮️ )
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To: SeekAndFind

Did anyone even think the outcome of that trial Wouldn’t be “GUILTY”?


3 posted on 05/29/2024 9:49:32 AM PDT by antidemoncrat
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To: antidemoncrat
Did anyone even think the outcome of that trial Wouldn’t be “GUILTY”?

There are a surprising number of Freepers who believe this. I don't get it. There's having a positive attitude, and there's going through life with blinders on.

4 posted on 05/29/2024 9:51:25 AM PDT by CatOwner (Don't expect anyone, even conservatives, to have your back when the SHTF in 2021 and beyond.)
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To: SeekAndFind

By running against Biden in 2020 Trump is GUILTY of trying to influence the outcome of the election!

How DARE he oppose a Democrat!


5 posted on 05/29/2024 9:51:38 AM PDT by MeganC (Ruzzians aren't people. )
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To: SeekAndFind

Friggin wetback “judge” treating an American court like it was in Mexico. Well, at least President Trump can expect a cigarette and a blindfold instead of a length of hemp. This is gonna be done wetback style.


6 posted on 05/29/2024 9:53:02 AM PDT by FlingWingFlyer (When did WE decide to make America a UN 5-Star Asylum Paradise for Socialist losers?)
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To: JonPreston

How can Merchan ask the jury to choose between one of three possible “underlying crimes”, when he refused to allow the defense to present witnesses regarding those three proposed “underlying crimes”? How can you expect a juror to know what to think of Trump’s actions in regard to those possible crimes, when you haven’t heard cross-examination regarding what would even constitute those crimes?

This is turd-world “justice”.


7 posted on 05/29/2024 9:53:42 AM PDT by butterdezillion
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To: SeekAndFind
"On Fox News a little while ago, Andy McCarthy called that instruction from the judge to the jury 'really outrageous.'"

Just another deliberate provocation by the left.
8 posted on 05/29/2024 9:55:35 AM PDT by clearcarbon (Fraudulent elections have consequences.)
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To: SeekAndFind

Maybe the Judge and Biden himself want riots by conservatives... The time to deal with individuals destroying the nation for their own political views is nearly upon us. Maybe God is pushing us into a nuclear war of Biden’s making just cleanse this nation of it’s Marxist God Self-hating ilk.


9 posted on 05/29/2024 9:57:39 AM PDT by Jumper
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To: SeekAndFind

This could be the catalyst for the CW…. Or national divorce,


10 posted on 05/29/2024 10:01:34 AM PDT by kjam22
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To: SeekAndFind
Merchan is adding one more act of judicial misconduct to a very long list of appeal bait, but it probably an unnecessary action that is going to backfire just like the rest of his conduct in his unfair, biased and compromised prosecution.

The jury has already made up their minds on how they will rule on the Trump trial and it has nothing to do with Trumps obvious innocence of any lack of criminality and the prosecutions obvious lack of a case or any pretense at honesty, ethics or desire for justice.

Pretty much everybody at this point has figured out for certain that Trump is an innocent man who is being attacked by political opponents in a Stalinist show trial.

All that matters is whether or not you hate Trump enough or are such a Democrat shill that are wiling to unleash your own private Beria on the guy.

What Merchan is done is made a desperation ruling to reinforce a failing prosecution that will only reinforce the public's perception that this is a total witch hunt and that Merchan is running a kangaroo court to get Trump.

It's destined to backfire regardless of the jury rules. In fact, it will probably backfire worse if the jury convicts Trump.

Biden and the Democrats are getting close to pushing people into take it to the streets territory

Which may be their goal

11 posted on 05/29/2024 10:02:16 AM PDT by rdcbn1
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To: SeekAndFind

Have they found him guilty yet?


12 posted on 05/29/2024 10:02:33 AM PDT by bray (It's not racist to be racist against races you do not like.)
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To: SeekAndFind

New York is a Hell Hole.


13 posted on 05/29/2024 10:05:34 AM PDT by ConservativeMind (Trump: Befuddling Democrats, Republicans, and the Media for the benefit of the US and all mankind.)
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To: rdcbn1
Oops . bad proof reading . R and F keys are bit too close together My Bad

Merchan is adding one more act of judicial misconduct to a very long list of appeal bait, but it probably an unnecessary action that is going to backfire just like the rest of his conduct in his unfair, biased and compromised prosecution.

The jury has already made up their minds on how they will rule on the Trump trial and it has nothing to do with Trumps obvious innocence or lack of any criminality and the prosecutions obvious lack of a legitimate case or any pretense at honesty, ethics or desire for justice.

Pretty much everybody at this point has figured out for certain that Trump is an innocent man who is being attacked by political opponents in a Stalinist show trial.

All that matters is whether or not you hate Trump enough or are such a Democrat shill that are wiling to unleash your own private Beria on the guy.

What Merchan is done is made a desperation ruling to reinforce a failing prosecution that will only reinforce the public's perception that this is a total witch hunt and that Merchan is running a kangaroo court to get Trump.

It's destined to backfire regardless of the jury rules. In fact, it will probably backfire worse if the jury convicts Trump.

Biden and the Democrats are getting close to pushing people into take it to the streets territory

Which may be their goal

14 posted on 05/29/2024 10:06:52 AM PDT by rdcbn1
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To: bray

“Have they found him guilty yet?”

The jury’s probably gonna soak the system for a few more free meals first.....and if one of those two lawyers isn’t jury foreman I’ll eat my hat.


15 posted on 05/29/2024 10:09:43 AM PDT by V_TWIN (America...so great even the people that hate it refuse to leave!)
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To: antidemoncrat

After listening to some of these instructions...I’d vote to acquit...because the instructions make no sense.


16 posted on 05/29/2024 10:11:25 AM PDT by Sacajaweau
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To: SeekAndFind

Merchan is throwing away any reputation or respect that he ever had as a lawyer... But that’s okay. He will be rewarded handsomely and the monetary benefits will be worth it. This verdict will be overturned and eventually vacated, but the immediate damage will be done and Dumocrats will love him forever for it.

Sad, but true.


17 posted on 05/29/2024 10:14:10 AM PDT by jerod (Nazis were essentially Socialist in Hugo Boss uniforms... Get over it!)
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To: JonPreston

Let’s go with Multiple Choice Verdict it sounds so more legalized


18 posted on 05/29/2024 10:18:04 AM PDT by mware
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To: kjam22
Or national divorce,

We aren’t there yet. Certainly not by state. We would be happy to leave the lefty states alone, but they NEED to have everyone on board, and wouldn’t leave US alone.
19 posted on 05/29/2024 10:18:53 AM PDT by Dr. Sivana
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To: butterdezillion
How can Merchan ask the jury to choose between one of three possible “underlying crimes”, when he refused to allow the defense to present witnesses regarding those three proposed “underlying crimes”?

the simple answer is that Merchan wants a guilty charge and could care less if it's overturned on appeal after the election.

20 posted on 05/29/2024 10:23:19 AM PDT by JonPreston ( ✌ ☮️ )
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