A New "TrumpLaw" May Be Taking Hold

WASHINGTON - Sept. 13, 2022 - PRLog -- An alternative version or definition of "TrumpLaw" may be taking hold, says public interest law professor John Banzhaf, who helped call attention to the original version of TrumpLaw.

In both usages it refers to lawless actions by judges, motivated by strong personal feelings for or against Trump, rather than by legal precedent and ordinary judicial restraint.

Originally used to describe the tendency of many judges to bend the law as far as possible to thwart him and his proposals, the term TrumpLaw is now beginning to be used as a criticism of Trump-appointed judges, including Judge Cannon who seems to be bending the law to favor the person who appointed her to the bench.

OLD TRUMPLAW - There was growing concern and recognition that courts appeared to be adopting a new jurisprudence called "TrumpLaw" aimed uniquely at this President; a method of judging cases which is aimed specifically at countering some of the practices of President Trump.

NEW TRUMPLAW - The new definition of TrumpLaw which is now emerging was recently described on Yahoo: "Trump gets legal advice from people like [Trump attorney Alina Habba who opined that the crimes of espionage and obstruction of justice were "mundane."] They practice TrumpLaw, which is a variety of alternative law" [perhaps somewhat like "alternative facts"]. "Unfortunately, it is not recognized outside of Trump resort properties and the Tucker Carlson show."

The majority of legal scholars seemingly agree that Judge Cannon has bent the law, perhaps even beyond its breaking point, to support and protect Trump; perhaps because of her admiration for him, arguably coupled with a feeling that he is being unfairly picked upon.

POLITICO - "But even some scholars who criticized that trend as establishing a unique kind of 'TrumpLaw,' now say the term can be applied to some of the recent rulings favoring Trump's legal positions. 'This stuff is completely way out and, unfortunately, Cannon has tended to go along with it,' said George Washington University law professor John Banzhaf. 'She's applying a kind of reverse TrumpLaw: anything Trump wants, I'll take the most ridiculous argument and I'll fly with it.'"

But judges should not bend or corrupt the law to punish or protect any person, even former president Trump, argues Banzhaf, who notes that those who in the past may have approved of a special corrupting brand of law and legal reasoning to punish Trump [the original TrumpLaw] may be hard pressed to complain now when other judges similarly adopt a special corrupting brand of law and legal reasoning to protect him [the new TrumpLaw].

http://banzhaf.net/   jbanzhaf3ATgmail.com   @profbanzhaf