Judge in Trump classified documents case sets key deadline ahead of trial

United States District Judge Aileen Cannon, in former President Donald Trump’s classified documents case, approved Friday a request from Special Counsel Jack Smith to require preparation of jury questionnaires jointly ahead of the 2024 trial.

Cannon ordered Trump’s legal team and that of the special counsel to “meaningfully confer and file a joint jury questionnaire for the Court’s consideration, clearly denoting any areas of agreement and disagreement” by Feb. 28.

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The trial is set to take place May 20, 2024.

In its Tuesday court filing requesting the action, Smith’s office wrote such preparation is necessary “Because the pre-trial publicity surrounding this case is substantial.”

“The Government recommends a thorough jury selection process, including a written questionnaire completed by potential jurors before in-person voir dire,” the filing read.

The Friday move comes as a small win for Smith, as Trump’s team has been pushing to delay the trial until after the 2024 election. While the move seems to favor Smith’s desire, the deadline set by Cannon is later than the Feb. 2, 2024 date requested by the special counsel.

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Trump’s legal defense team in the case responded to Smith’s request in a six-page filing, in which it called such measures “premature.”

“Moreover, in addition to wasting the Court’s resources, this type of litigation detracts from the defendants’ efforts to review voluminous discovery and prepare motions that are crucial to the defense,” Trump’s attorneys claimed.