It seems like the New York judge overseeing Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg‘s case against former President Donald Trump might just find himself in hot water over some ethical concerns. Now, isn’t that interesting?
A number of legal experts and former prosecutors think that Judge Juan Merchan may have broken New York’s Code of Judicial Conduct by donating to Democrats in 2020. According to Breitbart News, these donations could be grounds for an ethics investigation.
You see, in New York, sitting judges ain’t supposed to “directly or indirectly engage in any political activity,” and that includes donating to a political organization or candidate. The American Bar Association’s Model Code of Judicial Conduct says the same thing.
But here’s the kicker: Breitbart reports that Merchan made three political donations in 2020, and these donations can be found in public Federal Election Commission records. He donated $15.00 to Biden for President, $10.00 to the Progressive Turnout Project, and $10.00 to Stop Republicans, which aims to resist the Republican Party and Donald Trump’s “radical right-wing legacy.”
Judge Juan Merchan, who is overseeing Trump case, donated to Biden campaign in 2020 https://t.co/fR5M4y9uka pic.twitter.com/ms4LfSmWXL
— New York Post (@nypost) April 7, 2023
Now, Stephen Gillers, a legal ethics expert and law professor at New York University, told CNN that no matter how small the donations, they’re still not allowed under New York’s rules. But he also believes that the donated amounts would be “viewed as trivial” and wouldn’t provide any grounds for a recusal or legal challenge.
However, not everyone agrees with him. Brett Tolman, former U.S. Attorney for the District of Utah and former counsel for the Senate Judiciary Committee, told Breitbart News that Merchan’s violation should absolutely lead to his investigation and recusal.
The judge who presided over Donald Trump’s arraignment appears to have donated $15 to Joe Biden’s 2020 campaign, federal campaign contribution data shows. https://t.co/gYPZx9qKOQ
— NBC News (@NBCNews) April 6, 2023
Karen Friedman Agnifilo, a CNN legal analyst and former prosecutor in the Manhattan district attorney’s office, also weighed in, saying that the donations made by Merchan could create an “appearance of a conflict.” Even if there’s no actual conflict, the appearance of one is enough to warrant recusal, according to Tolman.
It’s clear that the situation with Judge Merchan raises some serious questions about fairness and impartiality in the courtroom. We need to keep our eyes on this case and make sure that justice is served without bias or prejudice.
In the end, it’s about standing up for our values and ensuring that everyone, regardless of their political beliefs, is held accountable for their actions. The potential ethical violation, in this case, should not be swept under the rug, and it’s our duty as American citizens to demand transparency and fairness in our judicial system.
Sources: ConservativeBrief, Breitbart News, Section 100.5, AmericanBar, CNN