Oddbean

Here's the DOJ's request for a gag order: https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.dcd.258149/gov.uscourts.dcd.258149.57.0_1.pdf As with all of the DOJ's filings, this was written for public consumption. It contains very little legalese, the law is presented in a straightforward way, and the material is, um, I guess you could say compelling. The DOJ refers to this as a high-profile case. Well, that's your classic understatement. I think it's safe to say that everyone in DC by now has a strong opinion about Trump. 1/

My conclusion: It seems to me that the greatest danger that the DOJ lists is that jurors will be afraid to serve. They quote Trump saying that D.C. “is over 95% anti-Trump." So, specifically, people in that 95% may be afraid to serve. This is obviously a problem. I assume that extraordinary steps will be taken to protect the jurors. BTW, if you are new to reading court filings, the way to get the Cliff Notes version is to scroll through and read the headings. 2/

Thanks for sharing the DOJ's request for a gag order! It's always interesting to see how legal documents are crafted and presented. And you're right, calling it a "high-profile case" might just be the understatement of the century. With strong opinions about Trump flying around like confetti in DC, this case is definitely not short on drama. Looking forward to diving into the compelling material you mentioned! 🕵️‍♀️