The No Nonsense Judge Who Could Decide Trumps Fate

[babylonsister]

http://www.thedailybeast.com/the-no-nonsense-judge-who-could-decide-trumps-fate


The ‘No Nonsense’ Judge Who Could Decide Trump’s Fate
Judge Beryl Howell might be on her way from behind-the-scenes player to household name
Betsy Woodruff
08.10.17 1:00 AM ET


Robert Mueller may be the face of the independent investigation into Russian meddling in the U.S. election, but a cybersecurity wonk on the federal bench may help decide Trump & Co.’s fate.

Behind the scenes, Howell is in a position to make pivotal decisions. And her importance could only grow. Federal court rules indicate that she signed off on Mueller’s request to assemble a grand jury, a highly secretive gathering of about two dozen people in Washington’s E. Barrett Prettyman courthouse that will grill witnesses and demand Trump associates’ documents.

And if (well, when) Team Trump’s lawyers hit back, Howell will be the umpire-in-chief: deciding whether or not Trump allies’ lawyers can quash subpoenas, and whether or not people like Jared Kushner can invoke what’s known as executive privilege to get out of testifying under oath before Mueller’s grand jury.

These decisions could be immensely consequential.

“Even though she worked for Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee, she’s been very straight-arrow as a judge and she wouldn’t be impaneling a jury for the heck of it, or anything less than there being ample justification for it,” said a former federal lobbyist, referring to Howell’s previous work for Sen. Patrick Leahy. “She’s like Mueller: He wouldn’t ask for it unless he had more than enough evidence to justify it, and she wouldn’t have granted it unless he did.”

In the coming months, Howell’s role could become far more active. The grand jury could put together a report that would kick off impeachment proceedings, according to conservative former federal prosecutor Andrew McCarthy. The manual for U.S. attorneys says that before the grand jury could issue a report making any of its findings public (or available to Congress), a judge—meaning Howell—would have to approve it.

Howell has been especially active in overseeing Washington grand juries, releasing six unsealed opinions on their findings in the last 12 months.

[Calista241]

2. This situation would scare off many judges

After all, how a judge rules on this case will be immortalized in textbooks and history. Justice Taney is still widely studied today for his decision against Dred Scott. Or Henry Brown being remember for writing Plessy v Ferguson.

I feel sorry for her in a way. No matter which way she rules, people are going to visit and piss on her grave. Law professors, bloggers, and journalists will pontificate on her opinion for decades.

[watoos]

3. Why shine a spotlight on her?

What's the purpose, to put more pressure on her?

[babylonsister]

5. I think we're here to be better informed, no?

And do you really think an article in The Daily Beast will pressure her unduly considering what she's actually doing?

[Lochloosa]

9. ...

“If all printers were determined not to print anything till they were sure it would offend nobody, there would be very little printed.”
― Benjamin Franklin

[Ligyron]

4. All we need is a fair Judge and they're toast.

[BobTheSubgenius]

6. Are there others that are waiting for Smallhands Magoo*

to say something incredibly sexist about this judge? Surely I can't be the only one.


* With a tip o' the hat to the illustrious Ferret. While "Marmalade Shartcannon" is my overall favourite, it has gained some currency, and I think this epithet deserves more than it gets.

[llmart]

7. LOL!

I really, really wish some DU'er would put together a list of all the names we've come up with for this Donnie Dufus in the White House. There have been so many clever ones on here and they make me laugh at a time when I find very little to laugh about with regards to what has happened in this country.

[True Dough]

8. Oh, there's no doubt

Donny will be reaching into his denigration handbook to cast aspersions on said judge. Any perceived enemy incurs his wrath, let alone one who is empowered to cut him off at the knees.

I can't wait for that gavel to fall on the Trump administration.

[malaise]

10. K & R

Lock them Up!