Trump Drops Lawsuit Against Judge Who Doomed His Company

The former president, who is drowning in legal trouble as he runs a 2024 presidential campaign, keeps running into brick walls as his characteristic defiance crashes head-on with the American justice system. And this one is no different.

If Trump decides to use this latest lawsuit against Engoron as a pretext to try getting rid of him, he’s likely to get quickly shot down. One reason Article 78 proceedings are rarely used is because they tend to irritate the judge—especially if an appellate court has to correct them—and the case stays with them. The law was designed to do exactly that, according to Brooklyn Law School professor Jayne Ressler.

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Instead, any attempt to boot Engoron off the case must be viewed through a political lens, legal scholars said. If Trump thinks he’s destined to lose the case before the AG, then any long-shot legal gamble or loud protest won’t make things any worse than they already are.

“He’s lost before he started. He’ll say he never got a fair shake and this is the perfect excuse. Any regular individual would do the opposite. But this is Trump. When the coffin is closed, he drills a hole,” Ressler said. “He’s literally cornered, so he might create a political ploy. So now, when he loses, this is his out.” ...