June 15, 2016

I was going to say that the subject of Trump's attack on the judge has passed through the political system...

But:
Donald Trump is asking the judge whom he has spent months bashing to do him a favor.

U.S. District Judge Gonzalo P. Curiel, whom Trump has publicly denounced as a "hater," will decide whether to release videos of the presumptive Republican presidential nominee's testifying in a lawsuit against Trump University....

53 comments:

Rick said...

This is a "favor"? Shouldn't it be based on balancing the facts and circumstances?

So he characterized the ruling in exactly the way it had to be to sustain a dig at Trump regardless of reality.

Got it.

Anonymous said...

So if the judge releases the videos, he's clearly a bully abusing his office to retaliate against Trump.

Clever move on Trump's party

Curious George said...

"Still, Trump said in February on NBC's "Meet the Press" that Curiel was biased against him because he's called for building a wall along the Mexican border to keep out immigrants

No, it's to keep out ILLEGAL ALIENS. It's not that hard to figure out, or say. They are by definition CRIMINALS the second there feet hit US soil. I would add machine gun towers, but I'm a hard liner.

Curious George said...

"Trump has called on Curiel to recuse himself from the case — based on his ancestry — which the judge has declined to do."

This isn't true either, is it?

Ann Althouse said...

"This isn't true either, is it?"

I've heard commentators observe that he hasn't asked for the judge to recuse himself.

Man, NBC is awful

Lewis Wetzel said...

Australia has similar immigration issues. They don't have a land border, but they are very close to Asian nations overcrowded with low skilled workers.
Yet, somehow, 90% of Australian citizens claim European ancestry. How is that possible? Don't they realize that they are a nation of immigrants? That importing millions of low paid, low skilled workers will boost their economy?

Chuck said...

NBC is in the business of dealing slanted stories against Republicans. It happens even when Republicans are smart and careful about what they say. 'Dog bites man.'

But it's far worse, when a nominal Republican uses ignorant and false language, like calling a federal district court judge a "Mexican."

Fernandinande said...

Trump University Case: Who Is Federal Judge Gonzalo Curiel?

NBC says he's not a member of "La Raza", or any "Hispanic" or "Latino" favoritism group.

Trump had referred to Curiel as "Mexican" last week — a description that some Latinos say was meant to be disparaging.
...
Curiel [...] said that it was useful that he and other prosecutors were of Mexican descent and could speak Spanish.

"When it comes down to it, this [extradition of cartel henchmen] involves the country of our parents," Curiel told the newspaper.


Hmmmm.

eric said...

When I'm Emperor these idiots will need to wear hats that say "DNC" all day every day.l

Brando said...

Why not discuss the relative merits of releasing or not releasing videos and other evidence? Isn't that what's relevant here?

Of course Trump is going to say any release is "unfair" just as sure as the sun rises in the East. But rather than indulge his tired refrain, how about we decide if the Judge's actions are unusual or what basis in law he has for them? For all the ink spilled over Trump's dumb "Mexican" comment there's been very little analysis as to whether the release is justified.

eric said...

Based on her statement above about NBC being awful, I'm going to assume she doesn't trust Breitbart or NBC.

That's two media organizations she doesn't trust. But so far, she has only singled out one for the statement.

eric said...

Which, by the way, I think is common. Virtue signaling. It's like starting a sentence in which you agree with Trump by saying "I don't support Trump but...."

Matt Sablan said...

How uncommon/common is it to release videos of these things? I know Judicial Watch routinely releases transcripts of depositions and the like for the current Clinton caper, but I thought that was abnormal, and only because they cared to go through the effort to do it.

Unknown said...

Not looking good for Trump. Maybe he'll look good in the deposition videos with his blood red rage face and orange hair.

Michael Ly said...

The media is so bias its ridiculous at this point. This morning you've got the WashingtonPost.com saying that Trump claimed Obama had something to do with the shootings, which is absolutely not true. I'm not saying I support Trump, but when you've got websites soliciting poll votes against him (like http://trumpfeedback.com/) you really can't trust anything you read anymore. Its depressing.

Bill, Republic of Texas said...

Good test of fairness. Clintons email case the judge refuses to allow the videos to be released.

Now we'll see what happens when a Republican asks the same thing.

Achilles said...

There needs to be a reason to release sealed testimony right? If they release the video it could taint future jury pools. There seems to be no legitimate reason for the judge to release the video.

Joe Biden, America's Putin said...

NBC is 100% in the tank for dems and for their corrupt queen.

John henry said...

Curiel was clearly born a Mexican citizen because of his parents.(Also a birthright US citizen being born in US)

Has anyone ever seen whether he has renounced that citizenship or if the Mexican govt has rescinded it?

He is also a Mexican "National" by birth. This is a legal status similar to but identical with, citizenship. Has he ever renounced this or has it been rescinded?

John Henry

Darrell said...

What does the judge have to say about the details that have been uncovered? That the guy pushing the suit is a pal of his at the same Lawyer's group (he was on the committee to select the illegal to receive their scholarship). Or that he has paid Hillary $250k to give talks. Would he prefer resigning to impeachment? Those are the questions NBC should ask. The judge.

Rick said...

eric said...
Based on her statement above about NBC being awful, I'm going to assume she doesn't trust Breitbart or NBC.


NBC is a news organization rather than a political advocacy group. The bias which comes through their reporting has already been filtered through professional standards and integrity.

NBC thinks this point is in their favor.

rhhardin said...

A conflict of interest is the pulley on which good character is hoist into public view, Coleridge said in an op-ed in 1800.

Or not hoist, if you're a Mexican judge.

Once written, twice... said...

Bill Clinton's deposition in the Lewinski Affair was released. That is the precedent.

eric said...

Blogger Once written, twice... said...
Bill Clinton's deposition in the Lewinski Affair was released. That is the precedent.


If by standard you mean already elected and not in the middle of an election, I agree with this.

Release Trumps transcripts after the election.

I suspect, however, you meant, release Democrats transcripts after elections and Republican transcripts during elections.

Because that's the sort of "fairness" Democrats are always Calling for.

cubanbob said...

Once let's be fair and balanced. Let's release Hillary's 1994 draft indictment and the evidence that's been suppressed in the Clinton U fraud matter that Bill got paid $16million from a tranch of money granted by the State Dept while Hillary was secretary.
Since the main plaintiff has withdrawn why hasn't this judge dismissed the case? The judge should also release the plaintiffs statements praising Trump U and the DoJ should release Hillary's IT guy's immunity deal.

JPS said...

I'm not a fan of Trump and I didn't like his reference to the judge being, we believe, Mexican, which is great.

That said, I was floored at the wall-to-wall coverage of the crisis that was Trump's remark about Judge Curiel. I was traveling this past weekend and the hotel had the lobby TV on CNN. By the third day I thought, Is this really that important? Only the massacre in Orlando knocked it off of Our Top Story. Until then it was News: Donald Trump calls judge Mexican; Analysis: Is Donald Trump racist for calling a U.S.-born judge Mexican? Opinion: Hell yes he is! News: [second verse, same as the first].

It was almost as if they wanted to see if they could make it stick, make this The Time He Finally Went Too Far. But I know they're too fair to try to do something like that.

traditionalguy said...

Crooked Judges are the rule. Honest Judges are few and far between because they have a power to corrupt without restraint, unless a rare litigant victim arises who can afford to fight the scam despite a losing cost benefit analysis on the case.

Trump is that rare one who is willing to spend the money to fight this corrupt scam Judge's Class Action racquet. He is willing to spend his money because he is fighting to win a Presidential election for you and me.

Jupiter said...

Curious George said...
"Trump has called on Curiel to recuse himself from the case — based on his ancestry — which the judge has declined to do."

This isn't true either, is it?

6/15/16, 1:35 PM
Blogger Ann Althouse said...
'"This isn't true either, is it?"

I've heard commentators observe that he hasn't asked for the judge to recuse himself.'

Whatever remedy Trump may or may not have requested, CG's point is that Trump has not objected to the judge's ancestry, he has objected to the judge's membership in openly and explicitly racist political advocacy groups. Joining a group with "La Raza" in its name does seem to indicate a rather idiosyncratic approach to judicial impartiality.

Jupiter said...

Like, suppose you're the plaintiff in the case, and you just happen to be Afro-American. Luck of the draw, right? And you notice that the judge's robe is all white. And he's wearing this pointy hood, with these weird, eerie-looking eyeholes in it. And instead of a flag, he's got a gigantic burning cross in his courtroom. And the bailiff keeps sloshing kerosene on it ...

Jupiter said...

Wouldn't you agree, that in a supposedly multi-racial and multi-cultural society, a judge's membership in an organization that openly asserts the primacy of his race over all others is entirely appropriate, and indeed should hardly excite comment of any kind?

Jupiter said...

Slightly off-topic, I suppose, but I've spent a little time in Mexico. Do you have any idea what the Policia would do with a bunch of gringos who showed up at a PRD rally in Chilpancingo waving US flags and throwing huevos at their women?

Chuck said...

Jupiter said...
Wouldn't you agree, that in a supposedly multi-racial and multi-cultural society, a judge's membership in an organization that openly asserts the primacy of his race over all others is entirely appropriate, and indeed should hardly excite comment of any kind?


Do you understand that Judge Curiel is not a member of such a society?

Chuck said...

traditionalguy said...
Crooked Judges are the rule. Honest Judges are few and far between because they have a power to corrupt without restraint, unless a rare litigant victim arises who can afford to fight the scam despite a losing cost benefit analysis on the case.

Trump is that rare one who is willing to spend the money to fight this corrupt scam Judge's Class Action racquet. He is willing to spend his money because he is fighting to win a Presidential election for you and me.


I don't think I am aware of where you practice law. Federal judges, as a rule, are not "crooked." At least not where I practice (in the Sixth Judicial Circuit). There are judges I like, and some I dislike. Most of the ones I like were Republican nominees; but not all. Most of the ones I dislike are Democrat nominees; but not all. I cannot think of a single federal District or Circuit judge anywhere in the entire Sixth Circuit to whom I would feel comfortable applying a label of "crooked."

To be sure, serious Movement Conservatives in American law have had lots of complaints about lots of liberal judges, their decisions, and lots of complaints about liberals' nominations to the federal bench, and about Senate Democrats' handling of federal judicial confirmations. We in the Federalist Society have been engaged in that fight for much, much longer than Donald Trump has even registered as a Republican voter.

About the Trump University litigation: have you read Donald Trump's deposition in that case? It is a textbook example of what not to do as a civil defendant. Trump was a laughingstock in that transcript. While the Trump University sales promotions advertised a teaching faculty "hand picked" by Mr. Trump, in his deposition Trump admitted that he had never met many of the "faculty."


chickelit said...

Didn't Judge Curiel already exclusively release all that material to The Washington Post?

chickelit said...

Chuck wrote Do you understand that Judge Curiel is not a member of such a society?

There is nexus between the most heinous organization called La Raza and the toned down professional one to which the judge belongs. Else, why the name? You have convinced no one otherwise.

chickelit said...

JPS wrote: It was almost as if they wanted to see if they could make it stick, make this The Time He Finally Went Too Far. But I know they're too fair to try to do something like that.

Many on the media including "The New York Times" and the "Washington Post" are engaged in friendly version of trying to land the "Time He Went To Far" scoop. They will not cease and desist until after the election. If he wins, they will switch to bringing him down. There will be no Damascene conversion for them, ever. To them, Trump threatens their rice bowl; in reality, he will keep them fed with news stories and livelihood. But, they will have to work after an eight year hiatus and they resent that.

Chuck said...

chickelit:

Sorry, you are wrong. Judge Curiel is not a member of the National Council of La Raza. The group to which Judge Curiel has been a member is a different organization. Organized separately; with different boards; different policies; different missions; different memberships.

I have made this analogy before; saying that the San Diego La Raza lawyers association is like saying the St. Louis Cardinals and the Arizona Cardinals are the same. No; they have different owners; they play different sports, in different leagues, with different players, in different cities.

This is why I want nothing to do with Trump and his supporters, and why I wish you'd all just steer clear of the Republican party. Everybody can have their own opinions; that's fine. But everybody cannot have their own facts.


john marzan said...

Connect the dots

http://politicaljunkie.blogspot.com/2016/06/connect-dots-judge-is-biased.html

chickelit said...

Chuck said...Sorry, you are wrong. Judge Curiel is not a member of the National Council of La Raza. The group to which Judge Curiel has been a member is a different organization. Organized separately; with different boards; different policies; different missions; different memberships.

You didn't understand my comment because that's not what I wrote. But, that's what you wanted me to write so that you could deny it. It's what you do, Chuck.

chickelit said...

@Chuck: Basically, the point of my 10:44 post boils down to "similarly offensive names."

Does that help?

Anonymous said...

The La Raza Lawyer's Association the judge belongs to linked to National Council of La Raza ON ITS BLOODY WEBSITE.

They're both named La Raza.

Use some of that damned common sense I know you still have a shred of, Chuck. Or do you need a peer reviewed study for these bloody obvious facts? Yeah, I'm sure these two groups named La Raza, that link to each other, share no overlap.

Here's some advice, Chuck: NEVER attempt to become any sort of professional detective. You'd make Inspector Clouseau look like Sherlock Holmes.

Chuck said...

Then say what you want to say, and be clear about it, chickelit. Don't toss out these vague shit-eating teaser allegations and then whine about how you were just raising questions.

Judge Curiel is not a member of any organization that would, or should, or will disqualify him from hearing the Trump University fraud trial.

Trump has said very specifically that Judge Curiel should recuse himself. But Trump's lawyers haven't made such a motion, and they know much better than the non-lawyer Trump does, what a weak and pointless loser of a motion that would be.

http://www.donaldjtrump.com/media/4-reasons-why-judge-curiel-in-trump-university-case-should-recuse-himself

Chuck said...

TCom -- If what you suggest had any merit at all, then it really ought to be such a simple matter for Trump's lawyers to move for a recusal. They could bring it before the Chief Judge of the Southern District, and not Judge Curiel. But they haven't, and they won't, because all of this recusal talk is nonsense.

chickelit said...

There is nexus between the most heinous organization called La Raza and the toned down professional one to which the judge belongs. Else, why the name? You have convinced no one otherwise.

How and why is that a "shit-eating teaser allegation[s]"?

chickelit said...

My last comment was directed at Chuck.

chickelit said...

If what you suggest had any merit at all, then it really ought to be such a simple matter for Trump's lawyers to move for a recusal. They could bring it before the Chief Judge of the Southern District, and not Judge Curiel. But they haven't, and they won't, because all of this recusal talk is nonsense.

In the court of public opinion, it might be better to alert the jury that the Judge has leftist bias.

Chuck said...

chickelit:

The National Council of La Raza is not the same as The La Raza San Diego Lawyers Association. They are different groups. They are not the same. The National Council of La Raza does provocative politics. The San Diego Lawyers Association doesn't.

So now you can explain your oblique reference to a "nexus."

chickelit said...

Nexus means "the means of connection between things linked in series."

To be clear, I'm saying that the word/term "La Raza" connects them.

I believe you stated last week that the name similarity was unfortunate?

chickelit said...

@Chuck: You are fast becoming the lawyer who defends the term "La Raza."

chickelit said...

I mean, I can see why you'd defend the term if you were getting paid by a client -- but otherwise...why?

chickelit said...

Take your time answering. I'm going to bed.

Hunter said...

I have read, also, that the Ku Klux Klan San Diego Lawyers Association is in fact quite fond of blacks and Jews, not to be confused with the National Council of Ku Klux Klans which takes a rather different tack.

Why the KKKSDLA seems to have named itself after the NCoKKK, I suppose is anyone's guess. Maybe it's one of those fraternal society things I've never really understood because as a non-member I'm not meant to.

grackle said...

I have made this analogy before; saying that the San Diego La Raza lawyers association is like saying the St. Louis Cardinals and the Arizona Cardinals are the same. No; they have different owners; they play different sports, in different leagues, with different players, in different cities.

La Raza is La Raza, whether it’s a bunch of rioters or a bunch of lawyers.

This is why I want nothing to do with Trump and his supporters, and why I wish you'd all just steer clear of the Republican party.

I’m wondering; why would the presumptive Republic party nominee for POTUS ever steer clear of the Republican party? Anyone else see this as weird? It’s like asking LeBron James to “steer clear” of the NBA.

Judge Curiel is not a member of any organization that would, or should, or will disqualify him from hearing the Trump University fraud trial.

I think Curiel, the La Raza judge, should allow another judge to judge the case. It’s said that a judge should avoid even the appearance of bias but here we have more than mere appearance, we have actual membership in a La Raza organization, an organization whose members riot when Trump attempts to hold a rally.

BTW, as a Trump supporter my first instinct is to thank Curiel and the rest of La Raza for the rioting because rioting La Razas create more voters for Trump, but after due reflection we just hope no one gets injured by the La Raza rioters.

Trump has an appearance in San Antonio coming up where there’s lots of La Raza. It would be a nice gesture if judge Curiel would issue a calming statement to La Raza asking his fellow La Razas to tone it down and be less violent in their protests.

I definitely think Curiel should recuse himself and I think even an apology would be appropriate - for not recusing himself sooner.

Readers, here we have a commentor who continually attacks Trump. But he’s NOT a Hillary supporter. No, no, don’t think THAT for a second! He just comments like one, that’s all. It’s one of those inexplicable coincidences that this commentor always attacks Trump. Life is full of these puzzlers.