NEW YORK (NEWSnet/AP) — A New York appeals court has again upheld a gag order that bars Donald Trump from commenting about court personnel in his civil fraud trial.
The Thursday ruling was that former president’s lawyers used the wrong legal mechanism to fight the restriction.
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A four-judge panel in the state’s mid-level appellate court ruled Thursday that Trump’s lawyers erred by suing trial Judge Arthur Engoron, who imposed the gag order in October after Trump disparaged his law clerk.
Instead, the appellate judges wrote, Trump’s lawyers should’ve followed the normal appeals process by asking Engoron to reverse the gag order and then, if denied, fighting that decision in a higher court.
The appeals court ruling came a day after testimony wrapped in the 2½-month trial in New York Attorney General Letitia James’ lawsuit.
Closing arguments are scheduled for Jan. 11 in the case, and Engoron said he hopes to have a verdict by the end of January.
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