'Disdain for the judge': Experts shocked by Trump lawyer Alina Habba's courtroom clash
Alina Habba’s abrasive courtroom demeanor shocked legal experts who watched her clash in real time with the federal judge overseeing E. Jean Carroll’s $10 million defamation lawsuit against Donald Trump Tuesday.
“This is called performing for the client,” said attorney Bradley Moss. “It's not helping.”
Moss was responding to reports from inside the New York City courtroom that Habba repeatedly drew ire from Judge Lewis Kaplan before a jury had even been selected.
Her demands for an adjournment so Trump could attend his mother-in-law’s funeral Thursday were slapped down by a visibly frustrated Kaplan.
Inner City Press reports Habba doubled down when Kaplan told her, “In my courtroom, when the ruling is made, that's the end.”
“I've never seen someone have to choose between being at a trial being sued for millions of dollars,” Habba replied. “My client flew through the night to be here.”
"You asked me for a week's adjournment and I denied it," Kaplan snapped. "The repetition is not accomplishing anything."
Kaplan also noted Trump is not obligated to be in court.
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Moss said Habba’s behavior — as detailed in the X thread he shared — should serve as a teaching moment for students studying the law.
“If you are ever in court you do not mimic the behavior of Mr. Trump's lawyers,” Moss wrote. “This type of commentary and disdain for the judge does not help your case.”
MSNBC legal analyst Norm Eisen was more blunt when it came to characterizing the Manhattan judge’s responses to Habba’s antics.
"Judge Kaplan is taking exactly zero s--- from Trump & his lawyers in the Carroll case,” he wrote.