Inside a dreary Lower Manhattan courtroom on a recent Wednesday, Justice Juan M. Merchan convened a particular session for individuals with psychological well being troubles who had landed in authorized jeopardy. He calmly recommended them, praised any indicators of progress and shook the hand of 1 man who, due to remedy, had turned his life round.
But a distinct sort of legal defendant is now testing the decide’s equanimity: Donald J. Trump.
Mr. Trump’s trial on fees that he lined up a intercourse scandal earlier than and after the 2016 presidential election will carry a maelstrom that no different decide in New York’s huge judiciary has ever skilled.
Known as a no-nonsense, drama-averse jurist, Justice Merchan, 61, has already reprimanded Mr. Trump’s attorneys for arguments that he thought-about frivolous and issued a gag order supposed to guard prosecutors, witnesses and his family from Mr. Trump’s vitriol — and but the previous president has continued to publish articles with footage of the decide’s daughter, a political advisor who has labored with Democratic candidates.
Although Justice Merchan is a registered Democrat, data present he was beforehand a Republican, and individuals who know him described the decide as a reasonable, law-and-order former prosecutor.
Two individuals near Justice Merchan, who spoke on the situation of anonymity, stated that the decide had privately expressed ache over the assaults on his daughter, however the individuals stated that these assaults received’t compromise his means to supervise the case. Other individuals who know the decide stated that he’ll solid apart Mr. Trump’s drama — and exert management over the trial.
“It is Judge Merchan’s show,” stated Jill Konviser, a retired decide who has identified Justice Merchan for greater than 15 years. She added: “He will do everything he can to, one, control his courtroom and two, ensure a fair trial for the defendant.”
In Justice Merchan’s 17 years on the bench, 13 as presiding decide within the Mental Health Court he created, he has had his share of bizarre circumstances. There was a homicide trial involving a supposed curse on the defendant; the daredevils who jumped off the World Trade Center with parachutes; and a so-called soccer-mom madam accused of working a high-end brothel on the Upper East Side. In that case, an appeals courtroom diminished the steep bail Justice Merchan had set, calling it “unreasonable.”
None of these defendants challenged the decide fairly like Mr. Trump, who claims that the case is a witch hunt and declared that Justice Merchan’s gag order had infringed on his First Amendment rights.
The former president has examined the order’s limits by posting articles that named and attacked Justice Merchan’s daughter, Loren, and his spouse, Lara. The articles, by the conservative activist Laura Loomer, included pictures of Loren Merchan and copies of a 2007 mortgage assertion for a home owned by Justice Merchan and his spouse. Previously, Mr. Trump falsely accused Loren Merchan of posting a picture of him behind bars on social media.
The trial, which may final two months as a parade of former aides and allies takes the stand in opposition to him, will dominate Justice Merchan’s calendar this spring.
On off-days, he’ll proceed to preside over Mental Health Court. The program is for defendants charged with felonies and recognized with a critical psychological sickness. People who’re accepted enter a responsible plea after which begin a interval of therapy and judicial supervision. Those who full this system efficiently can have their fees diminished or dismissed.
During one recent session, Justice Merchan confirmed explicit curiosity within the relationship between a defendant and his youngster, and praised him for his dedication.
“You want to do better by your daughter,” Justice Merchan stated. “I’m sure she’s going to appreciate that.”
