'Nobody forgot to check off a box,' judge says about lack of jury
Responding to lingering questions about the lack of a jury at the ongoing civil trial, Judge Engoron stated on the record that Trump would not have been entitled to a jury trial.
"We are having a non-jury trial because we are hearing a non-jury case," Engoron said, dispelling claims that the trial lacks a jury because Trump's lawyers simply forgot to check off a box or file a motion.
"It would have not helped to make a motion. Nobody forgot to check off a box," Engoron said.
During her opening statement, Trump's lawyer Alina Habba said the former president would have preferred a jury trial, and Trump himself has made multiple posts on his Truth Social platform about the alleged injustice stemming from the lack of a jury.
"The AG checked off non-jury, and there was no motion for a jury," Engoron said about the process in Trump's case -- but he added that if a motion for a jury trial had been filed, he would have rejected it because the attorney general asked for "equitable" relief, which does not entitle participants to a jury trial.
"I would like to say thank you, your honor," Habba said about the clarification.
