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17 September 2021 / Michael Zander KC
Issue: 7948 / Categories: Features , Profession
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Trouble for the Trump lawyers

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Lawyers for Trump abused the judicial process: Michael Zander heralds the words that capture a memorable judgment
  • In August, US District Judge Linda Parker ruled against lawyers for former president Donald Trump for bringing a case that sought to overturn his clear election defeat last November in Michigan.

‘This lawsuit represents a historic and profound abuse of the judicial process’ were the first words of US District Judge Linda Parker’s 110-page opinion in proceedings successfully brought by the governor of Michigan and the city of Detroit against nine lawyers for the former President Trump. They sought sanctions and costs against the lawyers for bringing a case that sought to overturn Trump’s clear election defeat last November in Michigan.

The judge referred the nine senior lawyers to their respective Bar Associations for potential disbarment, (unusually) ordered them to pay the state and the city’s costs—and, for good measure, required that they undergo 12 hours of legal education on pleading and election law. Her careful and impressive judgment looks appeal-proof.

The judgment

Her opinion was powerfully summarised in its opening section:

‘Individuals

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