Judge Aileen Cannon to Preside Over First Pretrial Conference in Criminal Case Against Former President Donald Trump

On Tuesday, U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon will preside over the first pretrial conference in the criminal case against former President Donald Trump concerning the mishandling of classified documents. Judge Cannon was appointed to her role by Trump and this will be her first time hearing arguments in the case since the former president’s indictment last month.

Trump’s legal team filed a motion last week, asking the judge to indefinitely delay the trial. They argued that there is “no ongoing threat to national security interests nor any concern regarding continued criminal activity” that would justify an expedited timeline for the trial. They also added that the presence of sensitive evidence and Trump’s busy schedule due to his 2024 campaign, will make it hard to prepare for the trial.

The pretrial conference will discuss the rules and procedures that will govern how classified evidence is used in the case. It is a routine subject for any prosecution that concerns classified information, but it is notable because of the defendant. When asked about the judge, Trump said “A very smart judge, and a very strong judge.”

Judge Cannon has not yet made a decision on the Trump team’s motion. It is unclear when she will make her decision or when the trial will begin. However, the pretrial conference on Tuesday will be an important step in the legal process and will provide more information on the timeline of the case.