Defense attorneys argue that this is an improper rushing of proceedings.
A federal appeals court on Wednesday agreed to special prosecutor Jack Smith’s request to expedite former President Donald Trump’s appeal to dismiss his Washington, D.C., election case based on presidential immunity.
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia issued an order outlining a streamlined briefing schedule and calling for oral arguments, with the date to be set later.
According to the order, President Trump’s opening brief is due by Dec. 23. The order emphasized that issues and arguments should be raised in the opening brief, discouraging new points in the reply brief for consideration.
“The court ordinarily will not consider issues and arguments raised for the first time in the reply brief,” reads the order (pdf).
This decision follows statements by the attorneys representing President Trump accusing the special counsel’s office of election interference in a recent appeals court filing after Mr. Smith requested to expedite the appeal so that the case can go to trial on March 4, 2024. March 4 is Super Tuesday, the U.S. presidential primary election day.
“The prosecution has one goal in this case: To unlawfully attempt to try, convict, and sentence President Trump