Manafort Trial Judge Wants The Lawyers’ Eye-Rolling To Stop

ALEXANDRIA, VA - JULY 23:  The Albert V. Bryan United States Courthouse where the trial of USA vs. Manafort will start on July 25th, on July 23, 2018 in Alexandria, Virginia.  (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images)
ALEXANDRIA, VA - JULY 23: The Albert V. Bryan United States Courthouse where the trial of USA vs. Manafort will start on July 25th, on July 23, 2018 in Alexandria, Virginia. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images)
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ALEXANDRIA, Va. (AP) — The federal judge in Paul Manafort’s financial fraud trial is trying to place limits on the court proceedings, warning lawyers not to roll their eyes at him or to introduce irrelevant evidence.

U.S. District Judge T.S. Ellis III pressed prosecutors to limit their use of an extensive trove of evidence, saying that some documents and photographs were not relevant to charges that Manafort tried to hide millions of dollars in income on his tax returns.

At one point in the trial’s second day, Ellis also said he was told that attorneys on both sides had been seen rolling their eyes after leaving the bench or in response to his rulings. The lawyers’ facial expressions, Ellis said, appeared to show them thinking “why do we have to put up with this idiot judge?”

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  1. Let me know when judge cranky demands internet commentors show some respect.

  2. Hey judge, if the shoe fits…

  3. I will allow the question and direct the judge to respond.

  4. Avatar for marby marby says:

    This judge is a bit weird. If he can’t handle eye-rolling, how does he deal with murderers or psychopaths? (or teenagers, for that matter)

  5. Avatar for fess fess says:

    Ellis also said he was told that attorneys on both sides had been seen rolling their eyes after leaving the bench or in response to his rulings.

    I’d love to know who felt they needed to go to the judge with that tidbit. The bailiff? A “friend”?

    The lawyers’ facial expressions, Ellis said, appeared to show them thinking “why do we have to put up with this idiot judge?”

    Well, yeah, that’s a logical question, Judge Crankypants.

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