bendog
Diamond Member
I think they should be making a motion for one, and recusal. I doubt Manafort would be found not guilty on all counts, and it only takes one, but a doover wouldn't be a bad idea.Mueller's trying to get a mistrial.Judge Ellis has been receiving negative coverage in the past few days for being too harsh on the prosecution and being out of place in ways that might influence the jury. Yesterday he lashed out at the prosecution because a witness who was called had been observing the whole trial from the courtroom, despite the fact that he had previously approved the witness being allowed to remain in the court room.
That prompted the Special Counsel's office to file a motion with the court asking for the error to be recognized and the jury instructed to disregard the judge's behavior, arguing 'Even if the Court did not intend to suggest that the government had been insubordinate, actions that project a “negative impression” of one side, United States v. Lefsih, 867 F.3d 459, 467 Case 1:18-cr-00083-TSE Document 216 Filed 08/09/18 Page 2 of 5 PageID# 4172 3 (4th Cir. 2017) (internal quotation marks omitted), or that reveal “continual agitation and hostility toward counsel,” United States v. Cassiagnol, 420 F.2d 868, 879 (4th Cir. 1970), can lead the jury to decide the case on improper grounds.' The judge granted the motion, providing the instruction with an apology before the jury.
Manafort trial Day 8: Judge concedes fault after Mueller team protests treatment
Ellis reminds me of Charles Pickering, when he tossed out a recommended sentence for cross burner because the crossburning ringleader took a plea, and left the defendant out to hang.