Judge's Errors in Earlier Trial Exposed in Trump Documents Case

The judge overseeing former President Donald Trump's upcoming trial for his handling of classified documents made two significant errors in a previous trial, including violating the defendant's constitutional right to a public trial and neglecting to swear in the jury pool. Legal experts argue that these mistakes highlight the judge's inexperience and raise concerns about how she will handle the intense public interest in Trump's trial. Closing a courtroom to the public is considered a "structural error" that can invalidate a trial, and it also implicates First Amendment rights. The judge's decision to close the courtroom due to space restrictions raises questions about public access in Trump's trial, which is scheduled to begin in May 2024.