Judge orders Manafort to court in prison clothing

[brooklynite]

Politico

A federal judge on Wednesday rejected Paul Manafort’s request to wear a professional suit during a hearing later this week about his sentence, noting the former Trump campaign chairman is now a felon who has lost the right to wear street clothing in all his court proceedings.

“This defendant should be treated no differently from other defendants who are in custody post conviction,” U.S. District Court Judge T.S. Ellis III wrote in a sharply worded order. The decision and its tone signal Manafort may be facing a very different environment when he returns Friday to the same Alexandria, Va., courtroom for a hearing to discuss his ongoing cooperation with special counsel Robert Mueller and to begin the process of setting a sentencing date.

It's not WHAT you were, it's how you wear it.

[CincyDem]

1. All so "the base" will see that witness against Trump are criminals. They are such asshats. n/t

[brooklynite]

2. You're saying that Manafort's Judge is a pro Trump lackey?

Manafort is a convicted felon.

[CincyDem]

3. I'm suggesting that his behavior throughout the trial and since implies that. yes.

I was involved in a case once where the lead defense attorney apologized to the defendants during the end of day conference call. He said "I'm not sure I earned my fee today because I said virtually nothing in court today. But I was taught in law school to shut up when the judge is arguing your case for you".

Based on reporting of the proceedings it appears that Ellis spent a lot of time arguing the case for the defense. Between rulings and personal commentary about the evidence, he consistently favored the defense. At the time, many argued that was only to ensure Manafort had NO grounds for any appeal.

His decision to reinsert himself into the plea agreement, leading to this week's court appearance, is another example of mucking around in the case. This time, citing EDVA's rocket docket reputation as being his top priority.

Taken alone, the attire requirement is trivial and may even be consistent with the majority of similar situations...but like not ALL similar situations.

Taken together with his habit of behavior, I am suggesting that Ellis is carrying a bias and the fact that Mueller's team got 10/18 and missed the other 8 by a single vote suggests the strength of the case against Manafort.

All IMHO and others will argue that Ellis was just being Ellis and his courtroom comments and antics was just classic "Ellis in action".

In the end, it's not going to matter because whatever Manafort wears, it may effect the perception but it isn't going to effect the facts.