Judge indefinitely postpones Mar-a-Lago classified docs trial date

U.S. District Court Judge Aileen Cannon on Tuesday indefinitely postponed the May 20 trial date in special counsel Jack Smith's classified documents case against former President Donald Trump.

Smith has charged Trump in connection with his alleged mishandling of classified materials at his Mar-a-Lago estate. He pleaded not guilty in June of 2023 but Smith later brought a superseding indictment in July of that year.

Several pre-trial motions remains before the court and are scheduled for after the initial trail date, the last of which is currently scheduled for July 22.

"The Court also determines that finalization of a trial date at this juncture—before resolution of the myriad and interconnected pre-trial and CIPA [Classified Information Procedures Act] issues remaining and forthcoming—would be imprudent and inconsistent with the Court’s duty to fully and fairly consider the various pending pre-trial motions before the Court, critical CIPA issues, and additional pretrial and trial preparations necessary to present this case to a jury," she wrote.

"The Court therefore vacates the current May 20, 2024, trial date (and associated calendar call), to be reset by separate order following resolution of the matters before the Court, consistent with Defendants’ right to due process and the public’s interest in the fair and efficient administration of justice," she continued.

The decision is potentially a major win for Trump, who has sought to push the case beyond the November presidential election.

Cannon denied Trump's bid to dismiss the case in early April over claims that the documents recovered from his estate were personal records. In February, he filed several motions for dismissal using different arguments, including claims to enjoy presidential immunity and an assertion that Smith was illegitimately appointed.

The Supreme Court heard oral arguments over Trump's immunity claims on April 25, but has not yet issued a decision on the matter.

Ben Whedon is an editor and reporter for Just the News. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter.