Chief Judge Makes Ruling On Trump Doc Case
In recent weeks, the Florida federal judge overseeing the criminal classified documents case against former President Donald Trump has faced over 1,000 complaints. These grievances allege mishandling of the case, as revealed by a top appeals court judge in a recent order.
Judge Aileen Cannon has been under scrutiny amid growing criticism from legal observers and Trump opponents, who accuse her of deliberately delaying the case to prevent it from going to trial before the presidential election. Chief Judge William Pryor of the 11th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals disclosed in a May 22 order that many complaints requested Cannon’s removal from the case.
“Many of the complaints” filed since May 16 with the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals call for Cannon’s removal and reassignment of the case to a different judge, Pryor wrote. He noted that these complaints also question the correctness and timeliness of her rulings, suggesting an “orchestrated campaign” against her.
Critics have pointed out Cannon’s delays in ruling on pending motions, granting hearings to Trump’s lawyers for issues that might otherwise be addressed through court filings, and criticizing filings by special counsel Jack Smith’s prosecutors. Trump, who appointed Cannon, faces charges for withholding classified government records at his Mar-a-Lago residence after leaving the White House and attempting to hide them from officials.
Pryor’s order addressed and dismissed four of the complaints, labeling them as “merits-related” and lacking sufficient evidence to suggest misconduct. He emphasized that neither he nor the appeals court’s Judicial Council has the authority to remove Cannon from the case under current judicial-conduct rules. Allegations of improper motive in delaying the case were deemed speculative and unsupported by evidence. Furthermore, there was no requirement for Cannon to recuse herself simply because she was appointed by Trump.
Before May 16, multiple complaints against Cannon had already been filed, related to her handling of Trump’s criminal case. Some of these complaints have been acted upon, while others are still under review. Pryor recommended that the Judicial Council order the appeals court’s clerk to stop accepting similar complaints against Cannon after May 16, a recommendation the council followed.
Public critics, including lawyer and former federal prosecutor Glenn Kirschner, have been vocal about Cannon’s role in the case. On his podcast “Justice Matters,” Kirschner accused Cannon of stalling the case by not resolving motions promptly or setting a trial date. He argued that federal law requires a judge to be removed when their impartiality might reasonably be questioned. Kirschner’s podcast episode included a link to a YouTube video explaining how to file a complaint against Cannon.
Pryor was part of a three-judge panel that overturned Cannon’s appointment of an outside watchdog in December 2022. The watchdog was to determine whether documents seized from Mar-a-Lago could be used in the ongoing criminal probe of Trump. The panel ruled that the district court, under Cannon’s jurisdiction, improperly exercised equitable jurisdiction in blocking the use of lawfully seized records.
The complaints against Judge Cannon highlight the intense scrutiny and political implications surrounding Trump’s classified documents case, reflecting broader tensions over judicial impartiality and the influence of political appointments on the legal process.