“Hear Ye! Hear Ye!”

La Doris Cordell

— IF I were the trial judge in any of the four criminal cases against Trump, how would I sanction him for his deliberate statements intimidating witnesses, potential jurors, and obstructing a fair trial? 

Locking him up in jail would be problematic, given the fact that he has Secret Service protection. So, I’d lock him up at home.

I’d order him to be confined in his home (pick one), and have it swept by the FBI to ensure that there are no electronic devices there or in his possession. I’d also order him to wear an electronic monitoring device on his ankle to ensure that he didn’t leave his home. And I’d prohibit him from using, directly or indirectly, his or anyone else’s electronic devices.

Of course, “home jail” means that he wouldn’t be able to hold political rallies or use social media. Since his own behavior brought on the need to confine him, that’s on him. 

Given the fact that he likely suffers from logorrhea (the constant need to talk, often incoherently), “home jail,” is entirely appropriate. One of the many of examples of his incoherence is this quote when he went to the Iowa State Fair: “Many of the allies I don’t know because we have so many allies and a lot of them I don’t know so I don’t know exactly what you’re talking about.”  

Finally, I’d impose a gag order on him and on all of the lawyers, prohibiting them from saying anything publicly about the trial. Whatever they have to say, gets said in the courtroom. 

Remember that Judge Kaplan imposed home-jail on Sam Bankman Fried, ordering him to be confined in his parents’ home in Palo Alto. When, however, he violated the order by tampering with witnesses, the judge ordered him into jail-jail, where he now resides until October. 

A trial judge has to maintain control of her courtroom which means that her orders must be respected. When her orders are not followed, there must be immediate consequences. For a defendant in a high profile case who is beset with logorrhea and a disdain for women and people of color, home-jail, followed by jail-jail, are appropriate and required. 

Onward!