In the process of being, a couple of courtroom tales to weigh in this Tuesday evening — time enough to feel some hope and refreshment for 2024 here in the growing darkness at the tail-end of this miserable year.
Rudy, STFU!
This suit isn’t just “clever.” It’s legally bulletproof. Now that Rudy’s hurtful lies about these two women have been found by judge and jury alike to be unprotected by the 1st Amendment, an order to shut the hell up is legally solid & fully enforceable.https://t.co/OkhnkzDZyj
— Laurence Tribe ?? ?? (@tribelaw) December 19, 2023
MSNBC legal analyst Barbara McQuade on today’s “Morning Joe” (via Raw Story):
“I think this particular lawsuit is really clever,” said McQuade, a former U.S. attorney. “They’ve already got $148 million as a judgment, so they’re not looking for more money. What they really want is for Rudy to shut the hell up. By seeking a court order, an injunction to stop spreading these lies, one of the things that the parties could do if he continues to do it is to seek a contempt order. Once they’ve got that injunction demanding that he stop, ordering him to stop, if he fails to do so, he could be held in contempt of court and, of course, with contempt, a judge has the ability to jail someone until they comply for up to 18 months.'”
“That may be what they’re seeking here, is the ability to hold that over his head, and maybe that’ll provide some disincentive to finally cause him to stop spreading these lies,” McQuade added.
Of course, just about everyone has caught this:
The Colorado Supreme Court Just Disqualified Trump From the 2024 Ballot – Mother Jones https://t.co/wo7sieQ2Ke
— David Corn (@DavidCornDC) December 19, 2023
Details/background per Mother Jones late this afternoon:
In a earthshaking decision on Tuesday evening, the Colorado Supreme Court ruled that the Constitution bars former President Donald Trump from holding federal office again—disqualifying the Republican frontrunner from the 2024 presidential ballot in Colorado.
Trump is expected to appeal the ruling to the Supreme Court. If the justices were to affirm the Colorado Supreme Court’s decision, Trump
Trump is expected to appeal the ruling to the Supreme Court. If the justices were to affirm the Colorado Supreme Court’s decision, Trump could be wiped off ballots nationwide.
“We do not reach these conclusions lightly,” the Colorado Supreme Court wrote in its decision. “We are mindful of the magnitude and weight of the questions now before us. We are likewise mindful of our solemn duty to apply the law, without fear or favor, and without being swayed by public reaction to the decisions that the law mandates we reach.”
In a play for realism, although the Colorado justices ordered Secretary of State Jena Griswold to exclude Trump from next year’s Republican primary ballot, they stayed its decision until January 4 to allow time for Trump to appeal.
And he most certainly will without much delay and set up the obvious:
Never misses an opportunity. pic.twitter.com/wJ6PQKCmD2
— Ron Filipkowski (@RonFilipkowski) December 20, 2023
Close us out with a bit of loud that’s not Rudy:
Courtroom drama, or not, yet here we are once again…
(Image out front by illustrator and portrait painter, Tim O’Brien, and can be found here.)