Judge Gives Jack Smith Exactly What He Needs

On Friday, Judge Tanya Chutkan granted special counsel Jack Smith’s request to delay the proceedings in his case against former President Donald Trump. This postponement shifts a crucial hearing, originally slated for next week, to September 5. Additionally, the deadline for court filings has been moved from this Friday to the end of August. This means that significant developments in the case are not expected to emerge until late summer.

The delay follows a surprise request from Smith’s team, made on Thursday, seeking to slow down the case in light of the Supreme Court’s recent decision on presidential immunity. The high court’s ruling in July introduced uncertainty into the case, prompting Smith’s team to request more time to adapt to the new legal landscape.

Before this ruling, Smith had been pushing for an expedited process. Last year, he even sought an early intervention from the Supreme Court on the immunity issue, anticipating that Trump would eventually challenge it there. However, the Supreme Court denied this request. Now, with the new precedent established by the high court, Smith’s team is reassessing their strategy. They indicated on Thursday that they are still evaluating how the Supreme Court’s decision impacts their case, including consulting with other DOJ components.

Judge Chutkan, appointed by President Obama, has been noted for her assertive approach in the case, often setting a brisk pace for proceedings. Her recent order reflects her intention to continue moving the case forward efficiently, despite the delay. The first week of September represents the earliest available date for the rescheduled hearing, signaling her commitment to resume the case as swiftly as possible.

During the upcoming hearing, Chutkan and the involved parties will establish a revised pre-trial schedule in response to the Supreme Court’s ruling. This ruling is anticipated to significantly undermine Smith’s case by excluding crucial elements of the indictment related to Trump’s interactions with the DOJ. As a result, Smith must now adjust his strategy to comply with the Supreme Court’s decision that certain presidential actions are immune from prosecution and cannot be used as evidence.

Smith was initially expected to outline his revised approach by Friday. However, with the new timeline, he now has an additional three weeks to formulate his next steps in this evolving legal battle.