'None. Do you understand that word?' Judge Kaplan smacks down Trump lawyer Alina Habba
On day two of writer E. Jean Carroll's defamation trial against former President Donald Trump, US District Judge Lewis F. Kaplan had what a journalist referred to as a "VERY testy exchange" with the ex-president's attorney, Alina Habba.
Erica Orden, who is a legal reporter for Politico, tweeted that Kaplan was nonplussed by Habba's attempts to adjourn the trial so Trump could attend his mother-in-law's funeral.
"Kaplan: 'The application is denied. I will hear no further argument on it.' Habba attempted to speak. Kaplan: 'None. Do you understand that word? Sit down,'" Orden posted to X (formerly Twitter).
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Orden chronicled Habba's reaction to Kaplan's brusque denial of her client's request.
"Habba: 'I don't like to be spoken to that way, your honor.' She continued to ask for an adjournment, at which point Kaplan cut her off again: 'It’s denied. Sit down.'"
Judge Kaplan's rigid attitude toward Habba's request to adjourn the trial is likely due to the judge viewing the funeral of Trump's mother-in-law as an already settled matter. Amalija Knavs — the late mother of former First Lady Melania Trump — passed away on January 9, and her funeral and burial were scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday. In a Friday ruling denying Trump's motion to postpone the trial by one week, Kaplan said that the former president was "free to attend the trial, the funeral, or all or parts of both as he wishes." He also offered "condolences to Mr. and Mrs. Trump and the rest of Ms. Knavs' family."
E. Jean Carroll's defamation trial is currently in its penalty phase, as the 45th president of the United States was already previously found liable for sexual abuse and for defamation. Before swearing in the jury, Kaplan asked each member if they understood Trump had already been found liable for defaming Carroll with actual malice and for sexually abusing the former Elle columnist. This week, the jury will decide how much Trump should be made to pay the writer he sexually assaulted in the 1990s for defaming her in 2019. Carroll is asking for $10 million in damages.
READ MORE: Judge slams door on Trump's last-minute attempt to delay E. Jean Carroll trial
