Cannon must recuse herself in Trump documents case

Former President Donald Trump keeps calling judges biased against him. But his trial for classified document thefts is before U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon — whom he appointed.

Could there be a more obvious case for judicial recusal? That’s an important feature of our justice system, so that to maintain public confidence judges avoid even the appearance of bias. Yet Cannon has already issued a string of rulings favoring Trump.

I have some personal experience here. In 1973, sued for libel in a political case, I came before Judge Arnold Proskin. He had been politically active on the same side. That mere fact made him immediately recuse himself.

Later, I was an administrative law judge on another politically sensitive case involving the Shoreham nuclear project. A comment of mine got published, questioning the merits of one party’s proposal. They moved for my recusal. I thought it was a close call but finally ruled that the comment did not show bias. My ruling was upheld on appeal.

Cannon’s failure to recuse is a disgraceful violation of judicial ethics. A moral dereliction endemic to all Trumpworld. He’s been shrieking that our justice system is “weaponized” against him. When in reality, he’s been getting away with too much, for too long, making a mockery of justice in America. Cannon’s role is just one piece of that picture.

It undermines public faith in our courts. Just as Trump has also cynically undermined confidence in election integrity. He is a civic wrecking ball. Electing him president again would be insane.