Here we are. At long last, we have the former President of the United States and current criminal defendant Donald John Trump in court as lawyers argue over potential jurors in the first of his several criminal cases. If this was The West Wing, we would’ve already had a conviction in the classified documents case at this point and the entire Republican Party would have decisively rejected him by now.
For better or for worse, we do not live in Aaron Sorkin’s world. We have the reality that we have.
This first day is a victory for the ideals of republicanism and democracy. Today is proof that no one, no matter how powerful, is above the law. The 14th Amendment is once again vindicated.
The trial is supposed to last six weeks or so. The commentary will feature many bad takes, even worse punditry, and offensive levels of both sidesism. In the courtroom, the judge will rule on motions, witnesses will answer questions under oath, lawyers will introduce evidence, and then twelve of the defendant’s peers will render a judgement on each of the 34 counts.
There’s something beautiful of the sheer banality of all this, something uniquely American. I’m reminded of a scene from the movie Hoosiers where the basketball team made it to the state tournament and was blown away by the size of the gym until Gene Hackman’s character has them measure the size of the court. The big city court’s dimensions were no different than their tiny, hometown basketball court.
Like the high school athletes in the movie, the jurors in the Trump trial may feel a little overwhelmed at first, even if the case will be straightforward. Despite the personalities involved, the fundamental question is simple: did the prosecution prove each element of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt?
There’s been far too many delays and ridiculous motions, but nonetheless the wheel of justice is turning in its own way, in its own time. It should be this way; the defendant should get every opportunity to aggressively contest the allegations made against them, even if some border on the frivolous. It has been like this since the beginning with no less a person than John Adams defending the British soldiers involved in the Boston Massacre.
Notice of Boston Massacre trial
Keep the faith in our fellow citizens and the Republic. The moral arc of the universe is long, but it is moving towards justice before our eyes. The powerful will be held to account and our our system already has shown no one is above the law. When we lose faith in our citizens, when we turn our backs on the ideals of equality and justice, then America is no longer America.
All will be well.
This is your idea of “rule of law”? You have proven you can talk out of your ass and then transcribe that asstalk to paper. Congrats, I guess. Now, where is that mute/block button for you?