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Special counsel Jack Smith opposes televising Trump federal election subversion trial

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Summary

Special counsel Jack Smith has filed a document opposing the televising of the federal election subversion trial of former President Donald Trump in Washington, DC. A group of media organizations, including CNN, has asked the judge overseeing the case to allow broadcasting of the trial due to its historic nature. Trump's attorney has also supported the idea. Prosecutors argue that the rule prohibiting cameras during criminal proceedings is in place to avoid risks to the fair administration of justice and that the court should decline the invitation to ignore the binding nature of the rule.

Q&As

What is the opinion of Special Counsel Jack Smith on televising the federal election subversion trial of former President Donald Trump?
Special Counsel Jack Smith opposes televising the federal election subversion trial of former President Donald Trump.

What arguments have been made by media organizations and Trump's attorneys in favor of broadcasting the trial?
Media organizations and Trump's attorneys have argued that the long-standing rule against cameras in federal criminal trials is outdated and would violate the First Amendment if strictly enforced in the Trump case, and that the right to observe the trial must include a right of first-hand observation beyond those few dozen people who are able to squeeze into the courtroom.

What is the view of prosecutors on broadcasting the trial?
Prosecutors argue that there is no constitutional right to a televised trial and that the rule is in place to avoid the risks that policymakers have determined cameras pose to the fair administration of justice.

When is the trial of former President Donald Trump scheduled for?
The trial of former President Donald Trump is scheduled for March 4.

What risks do policymakers believe cameras pose to the fair administration of justice?
Policymakers believe cameras pose risks to the fair administration of justice such as the potential for jurors to be influenced by media coverage, the potential for witnesses to be intimidated, and the potential for the proceedings to be disrupted.

AI Comments

👍 Special counsel Jack Smith is taking all necessary steps to ensure that former President Donald Trump's trial is conducted fairly and without any constitutional violations.

👎 The federal rule prohibiting cameras during criminal proceedings is outdated and denies the public the right to observe the historic trial of former President Donald Trump.

AI Discussion

Me: It's about special counsel Jack Smith opposing televising the federal election subversion trial of former President Donald Trump. Prosecutors argue that federal courts are expressly prohibited from allowing court proceedings to be broadcast or photographed and that the media organizations' attempt to broadcast the trial would violate the First Amendment. Trump's attorney has also supported the idea of broadcasting the trial, but prosecutors say that this argument is premature and that there is no constitutional right to a televised trial.

Friend: That's interesting. It sounds like the argument is that televising the trial would go against the long-standing rule against cameras in federal criminal trials, which dates back to the 1940s. But at the same time, it could be argued that the public has a right to observe and understand the proceedings of a trial as historic as this one.

Me: Exactly. It's a tricky situation. There are pros and cons to allowing the public to watch the trial, and it's up to the court to decide which way to go. On one hand, it could be argued that broadcasting the trial would be beneficial because it would allow the public to have more direct access to the proceedings. On the other hand, it could be argued that it could lead to disruption and bias from the public.

Action items

Research the federal rule prohibiting cameras during criminal proceedings and the arguments for and against it.
Reach out to policymakers to advocate for the right to broadcast the trial of former President Donald Trump.
Follow the case closely and stay up to date on any developments regarding the possibility of televising the trial.

Technical terms

Special counsel: A lawyer appointed by the government to investigate and prosecute a particular case.
Indictment: A formal accusation of a crime made by a grand jury.
Teleconferences: A meeting or conference held over the telephone or the internet.
Gag order: A court order prohibiting the parties involved in a case from discussing it publicly.
Oral arguments: A formal presentation of a legal argument to a court by a lawyer.
First Amendment: The first amendment to the US Constitution, which guarantees freedom of speech, press, religion, assembly, and petition.
Overflow spaces: Areas in a courtroom that are available for additional people to observe a trial.
Policymakers: People who make decisions about laws and regulations.