The forthcoming phase of legal proceedings regarding President Trump’s alleged interference in the 2020 Georgia and federal elections is on the horizon. Former President Donald Trump is set to go on trial on March 4, 2024, as ordered by federal Judge Tanya Chutkan. The charges against him revolve around his alleged attempts to overturn the 2020 presidential election results.

During a recent court session, Judge Chutkan dismissed the proposed trial dates from both the Justice Department and Trump’s legal team. The prosecutors had suggested a trial start in January 2024, while Trump’s lawyers proposed April 2026. The scheduled trial date is particularly significant as it falls on the day before Super Tuesday, a crucial day in multiple states’ electoral processes, including California and Texas.

Judge Chutkan also established a detailed pre-trial schedule. Key dates include:

• All pre-trial motions, except motions in limine, must be filed by October 9.
• Opposition briefs are due by October 23, with reply briefs to follow by November 6.
• The deadline for submitting motions to suppress evidence and motions in limine is December 27. Opposition briefs must be filed by January 9, and reply briefs by January 24.
• Prosecutors must disclose their planned evidence by December 4.
• Lists of expert witnesses must be exchanged by December 11 in the business domain. Exhibit lists are due by December 18, with objections to be filed by January 3 and replies by January 9. Witness lists must be exchanged by February 24.
• Both parties must submit their respective jury instructions and voir dire questions by January 15.

During the hearing in Washington, D.C., regarding the election subversion case against former President Donald Trump, a Justice Department attorney expressed concerns about defense attorneys conducting polls of District residents. The attorney argued that such polling could prejudice the potential jury pool.

Molly Gaston, a legal representative working under special counsel Jack Smith, voiced concerns about President Trump’s lawyers conducting a survey of Washington, D.C. residents in preparation for the March 2024 trial. Gaston worried that certain poll questions could bias the selection of potential jurors.

In legal proceedings, defense attorneys have the authority to survey individuals who might be part of the jury pool, not only from their own jurisdiction but also from other U.S. jurisdictions. These surveys typically ask questions related to the case’s subject matter, and the findings can be used as evidence to support a change in the trial’s location.

In a similar case, defense lawyers representing members and associates of the Oath Keepers, who face seditious conspiracy charges for their involvement in the Capitol attack, conducted surveys among Washington, D.C. residents. These surveys included questions about the events of January 6, 2021.

The defense counsel for the Oath Keepers attempted unsuccessfully to change the trial venue to either Virginia or Florida, arguing that local residents there were less affected by the attack.

John Lauro, the legal representative for the former president, informed District Judge Tanya Chutkan of his intention to conduct polling in the near future, emphasizing that it would happen relatively soon. He also stated that he would not disclose survey information to the U.S. government.

Judge Chutkan expressed her vigilant oversight of any factors that could potentially affect the pool of potential jurors. She specifically voiced concerns about how Trump’s legal team formulates their survey questions and their potential impact on the impartiality of D.C. residents in delivering a fair verdict. Chutkan instructed Lauro to inform the court if he plans to issue a survey, and she indicated that she would carefully assess the situation before making a decision.