Trump Cannot Participate in Closing Arguments in NY Civil Trial, Judge Engoron Says

President Trump’s lawyers, who have already appealed unsuccessfully for a directed verdict on the grounds of prosecutorial bias, will make their case on Jan. 11

(Left) New York State Supreme Court Judge Arthur Engoron. (Dave Sanders/Pool Photo via AP) / Former President Donald Trump in the courtroom on on Oct. 17, 2023. Seth Wenig/Pool/Getty Images

New York Supreme Court Justice Arthur Engoron indicated to attorneys on Jan. 10 that former President Donald Trump likely won’t participate in closing arguments for his civil fraud trial.

Emails posted to the court docket show Justice Engoron telling President Trump’s attorney Chris Kise, “Not having heard from you by the third extended deadline (noon today), I assume that Mr. Trump will not agree to the reasonable, lawful limits I have imposed as a precondition to giving a closing statement above and beyond those given by his attorneys, and that, therefore, he will not be speaking in court tomorrow.”